bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Care and functional disabilities in daily activities – ELSI-Brazil
Authors: Giacomin Karla Cristina , Duarte Yeda Aparecida Oliveira , Camarano Ana Amélia , Nunes Daniella Pires , Fernandes Daniele
Published: February 2019

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of demand and provision of care for the Brazilian population with functional disabilities in activities of daily living. METHODS: This is a quantitative and descriptive study using baseline data from ELSI-Brazil (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging), a cohort study with a representative sample of the Brazilian population aged 50 years or older (n = 9,412). We considered the demand for care from the self-report of having some difficulty to perform at least one activity of daily life (eating, bathing, going to the toilet, dressing, moving in a room [ambulation], and transferring from chair [transfer]). Care supply was measured by having some help to perform the activity of daily living. RESULTS: Approximately a quarter of the individuals evaluated (23.2%) reported difficulty in at least one activity of daily living, especially regarding transfer and dressing. Age, schooling, and number of chronic diseases were significantly associated with the difficulty in activities of daily living. Among those who reported difficulty, 35.1% received help of others and 11.8% did not receive (lack of care). The activities with greater lack of care were bathing (13.3%) and transfer (11.7%), which reveals an undignified survival condition. Care remains a family (94.1%) and female (72.1%) issue; despite the important changes that have taken place in society, there is still a lack of care policies. Of the total caregivers, 25.8% reported stopping working or studying to perform this role and only 9.2% were paid (hired ones or family members). CONCLUSIONS: The ELSI-Brazil results reveal the expressive care demand of the Brazilian population aged 50 years or older with functional disabilities on activities of daily living and the lack of care policies aimed at this public.
Device Programming for His Bundle Pacing
Authors: Burri Haran , Keene Daniel , Whinnett Zachary , Zanon Francesco , Vijayaraman Pugazhendhi
Published: February 2019

Although permanent His bundle pacing was first reported almost 2 decades ago, it is only recently gaining wider adoption, following facilitation of the implant procedure by dedicated tools. An additional challenge is programming the system, as His bundle pacing may have specific configurations and require special considerations which current implantable pulse generators are not designed for. The aim of this article is to provide practical recommendations for programming His bundle pacing, to deliver optimal therapy and ensure patient safety.
Real-World Treatment Trends in Endovascular Stroke Therapy
Authors: Saber Hamidreza , Navi Babak B. , Grotta James C. , Kamel Hooman , Bambhroliya Arvind , Vahidy Farhaan S. , Chen Peng Roc , Blackburn Spiros , Savitz Sean I. , McCullough Louise , Sheth Sunil A.
Published: February 2019

Background and Purpose—

Recent landmark trials provided overwhelming evidence for effectiveness of endovascular stroke therapy (EST). Yet, the impact of these trials on clinical practice and effectiveness of EST among lower volume centers remains poorly characterized. Here, we determine population-level patterns in EST performance in US hospitals and compare EST outcomes from higher versus lower volume centers.

Methods—

Using validated diagnosis codes from data on all discharges from hospitals and Emergency Rooms in Florida (2006–2016) and the National Inpatient Sample (2012–2016) we identified patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with EST. The primary end point was good discharge outcome defined as discharge to home or acute rehabilitation facility. Multivariate regressions adjusted for medical comorbidities, intravenous tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) usage and annual hospital stroke volume were used to evaluate the likelihood of good outcome over time and by annual hospital EST volume.

Results—

A total of 3890 patients (median age, 73 [61–82] years, 51% female) with EST were identified in the Florida cohort and 42 505 (median age, 69 [58–79], 50% female) in the National Inpatient Sample. In both Florida and the National Inpatient Sample, the number of hospitals performing EST increased continuously. Increasing numbers of EST procedures were performed at lower annual EST volume hospitals over the studied time period. In adjusted multivariate regression, there was a continuous increase in the likelihood of good outcomes among patients treated in hospitals with increasing annual EST procedures per year (odds ratio, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.1–1.2 in Florida and odds ratio, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.2–1.4 in National Inpatient Sample).

Conclusions—

Analysis of population-level datasets of patients treated with EST from 2006 to 2016 demonstrated an increase in the number of centers performing EST, resulting in a greater number of procedures performed at lower volume centers. There was a positive association between EST volume and favorable discharge outcomes in EST-performing hospitals.
Directional Visual Motion Is Represented in the Auditory and Association Cortices of Early Deaf Individuals
Authors: Retter Talia L. , Webster Michael A. , Jiang Fang
Published: February 2019

Individuals who are deaf since early life may show enhanced performance at some visual tasks, including discrimination of directional motion. The neural substrates of such behavioral enhancements remain difficult to identify in humans, although neural plasticity has been shown for early deaf people in the auditory and association cortices, including the primary auditory cortex (PAC) and STS region, respectively. Here, we investigated whether neural responses in auditory and association cortices of early deaf individuals are reorganized to be sensitive to directional visual motion. To capture direction-selective responses, we recorded fMRI responses frequency-tagged to the 0.1-Hz presentation of central directional (100% coherent random dot) motion persisting for 2 sec contrasted with nondirectional (0% coherent) motion for 8 sec. We found direction-selective responses in the STS region in both deaf and hearing participants, but the extent of activation in the right STS region was 5.5 times larger for deaf participants. Minimal but significant direction-selective responses were also found in the PAC of deaf participants, both at the group level and in five of six individuals. In response to stimuli presented separately in the right and left visual fields, the relative activation across the right and left hemispheres was similar in both the PAC and STS region of deaf participants. Notably, the enhanced right-hemisphere activation could support the right visual field advantage reported previously in behavioral studies. Taken together, these results show that the reorganized auditory cortices of early deaf individuals are sensitive to directional motion. Speculatively, these results suggest that auditory and association regions can be remapped to support enhanced visual performance.
Dissociating Cognitive and Motoric Precursors of Human Self-Initiated Action
Authors: Khalighinejad Nima , Brann Elisa , Dorgham Alexander , Haggard Patrick
Published: February 2019

Across-trial variability of EEG decreases more markedly before self-initiated than before externally triggered actions, providing a novel neural precursor for volitional action. However, it remains unclear whether this neural convergence is an early, deliberative stage or a late, execution-related stage in the chain of cognitive processes that transform intentions to actions. We report two experiments addressing these questions. Participants viewed randomly moving dots on a screen. At a random time, all dots started moving coherently to the left or right side of the screen. Participants were rewarded for correctly responding to the direction of coherent dot movement. However, the waiting time before coherent dot motion onset could be extremely long. Participants had the option to skip waiting by pressing a “skip” key. These self-initiated “skips” were compared with blocks where participants were instructed to skip. EEG variability decreased more markedly before self-initiated compared with externally triggered “skip” actions, replicating previous findings. Importantly, this EEG convergence was stronger at frontomidline electrodes than at either the electrode contralateral or ipsilateral to the hand assigned to the “skip” action in each block (Experiment 1). Furthermore, convergence was stronger when availability of skip responses was “rationed,” encouraging deliberate planning before skipping (Experiment 2). This suggests that the initiation of voluntary actions involves a bilaterally distributed, effector-independent process related to deliberation. A consistent process of volition is detectable during early, deliberative planning and not only during late, execution-related time windows.
The genus Oecetis McLachlan in Bolivia and northwestern Argentina (Trichoptera: Leptoceridae), with new species and identification key for males of Oecetis species from Mexico, Central and South America
Authors: MARTÍN PAOLA RUEDA , GIBON FRANCOIS-MARIE , MOLINA CARLOS ISRAEL
Published: February 2019

Six new species of Oecetis are described from Bolivia: O. carlibanezae, O. chipiriri, O. dominguezi, O. oberdorffi, O. pseudoamazonica and O. traini. Eight previously described species are recorded from Bolivia and northwestern Argentina: O. amazonica (Banks 1924), O. avara (Banks 1895), O. exisa Ulmer 1907, O. inconspicua (Walker 1852), O. knutsoni Flint 1981, O. paranensis Flint 1982a, O. punctipennis (Ulmer 1905) and O. rafaeli Flint 1991b. This work contains an identification key for males of Oecetis species from Mexico, Central and South America.
Vitilevumyia, an enigmatic new genus of Stratiomyidae from Fiji (Diptera)
Authors: WOODLEY NORMAN E.
Published: February 2019

A new genus and species of Stratiomyidae (Diptera), Vitilevumyia bobwoodleyi gen. et sp. nov. is described from the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. It exhibits an unusual combination of character states, but is tentatively placed in the tribe Prosopochrysini of the subfamily Stratiomyinae.
Review of Ancistrus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the northwestern Guiana Shield, Orinoco Andes, and adjacent basins with description of six new species
Authors: DE SOUZA LESLEY S. , TAPHORN DONALD C. , ARMBRUSTER JONATHAN W.
Published: February 2019

The Orinoco Andes and northwestern Guiana Shield (Essequibo, Orinoco, Branco, and upper Negro) were found to contain 11 species of Ancistrus, six of which are new. We additionally examine A. brevifilis from the Río Tuy of Venezuela and A. trinitatis from the island of Trinidad. The species in the region can be broken up into dorsoventrally flattened species (A. leoni new species, A. lithurgicus, and A. macropthalmus), white to yellow-dotted species (A. kellerae new species, A. nudiceps, and A. patronus new species), wide-jawed species (A. amaris new species and A. yutajae new species), and white-spotted species (A. brevifilis, A. leucostictus, A. trinitatis, A. saudades new species, and A. triradiatus). Distributions of Ancistrus support the Proto-Berbice hypothesis as A. saudades is found in the upper reaches of the Ventuari, Caura, and Caroni rivers, which were thought to have once flowed into the Proto-Berbice. In addition, although A. nudiceps does not appear to have split once the Takutu River was captured by the Branco, the progenitor of A. leucostictus and A. saudades did speciate with the populations on either side of the Rupununi Portal differing by 7% sequence divergence of the mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene. Besides the descriptions of the new species, we redescribe the others occurring in the area, and adjacent watersheds. We provide a key for their identification, and a preliminary hypothesis of relationships based on DNA sequences of the few species for which tissue samples are available.
Improving Climate Change Literacy and Promoting Outreach in an Undergraduate Atmospheric Sciences Program
Authors: Hanrahan Janel , Shafer Jason
Published: February 2019

Mitigation of human-caused climate change is essential to lessen the extent of future negative impacts, but many people are not aware of the urgency of the situation. For meaningful climate change action to be realized, accurate information must be conveyed by experts to nonexperts. Improved climate change literacy may thus be achieved in two ways. First, we must increase the number of scientists who are knowledgeable about climate change, and second, we must encourage these experts to engage with nonexperts and provide them with adequate resources to do so. Such efforts are currently being implemented in the undergraduate Atmospheric Sciences/Meteorology program (ATM) at Northern Vermont University–Lyndon. To increase knowledge, all ATM students regardless of career pathway are required to take courses that cover the science of human-caused climate change. They are then encouraged to communicate this knowledge to the public. Students are creating informational content for a department-run website and are regularly given opportunities to engage with the public at local schools and events. The results of these curricular and extracurricular changes are promising. Student interest in the topic of climate change has increased and they have demonstrated a heighted sense of responsibility to engage with the public about this challenging topic.
The Eddy-Driven Jet and Storm-Track Responses to Boundary Layer Drag: Insights from an Idealized Dry GCM Study
Authors: Mbengue Cheikh O. , Woollings Tim
Published: February 2019

Simulations using a dry, idealized general circulation model (GCM) are conducted to systematically investigate the eddy-driven jet’s sensitivity to the location of boundary layer drag. Perturbations of boundary layer drag solely within the baroclinic zone reproduce the eddy-driven jet responses to global drag variations. The implications for current theories of eddy-driven jet shifts are discussed. Hemispherically asymmetric drag simulations in equinoctial and solstitial thermal conditions show that perturbations of surface drag in one hemisphere have negligible effects on the strength and latitude of the eddy-driven jet in the opposite hemisphere. Jet speed exhibits larger sensitivities to surface drag in perpetual winter simulations, while sensitivities in jet latitude are larger in perpetual summer simulations. Near-surface drag simulations with an Earthlike continental profile show how surface drag may facilitate tropical–extratropical teleconnections by modifying waveguides through changes in jet latitude. Longitudinally confined drag simulations demonstrate a novel mechanism for localizing storm tracks. A theoretical analysis is used to show that asymmetries in the Bernoulli function within the baroclinic zone are important for the eddy-driven jet latitude responses because they directly modulate the sensitivity of the zonal-mean zonal wind to drag in the boundary layer momentum balance. The simulations contained herein provide a rich array of case studies against which to test current theories of eddy-driven jet and storm-track shifts, and the results affirm the importance of correct, well-constrained locations and intensities of boundary layer drag in order to reduce jet and storm-track biases in climate and forecast models.
Sensible Heat Fluxes in the Nearly Neutral Boundary Layer: The Impact of Frictional Heating within the Surface Layer
Authors: Edwards J. M.
Published: February 2019

The effect of frictional dissipative heating on the calculation of surface fluxes in the atmospheric boundary layer using bulk flux formulas is considered. Although the importance of frictional dissipation in intense storms has been widely recognized, it is suggested here that its impact is also to be seen at more moderate wind speeds in apparently enhanced heat transfer coefficients and countergradient fluxes in nearly neutral conditions. A simple modification to the bulk flux formula can be made to account for its impact within the surface layer. This modification is consistent with an interpretation of the surface layer as one across which the flux of total energy is constant. The effect of this modification on tropical cyclones is assessed in an idealized model, where it is shown to reduce the predicted maximum wind speed by about 4%. In numerical simulations of three individual storms, the impacts are more subtle but indicate a reduction of the sensible heat flux into the storm and a cooling of the surface layer.
Disturbed thalamocortical connectivity in unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients with a high genetic loading
Authors: Cho Kang Ik K , Kim Minah , Yoon Youngwoo Bryan , Lee Junhee , Lee Tae Young , Kwon Jun Soo
Published: February 2019

Objectives:

Alterations in thalamocortical anatomical connectivity, specifically the connection between the orbitofrontal cortex and thalamus, have been frequently reported in schizophrenia and are suggested to contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The connectivity of the thalamocortical white matter in unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients was compared to that of healthy controls.

Methods:

The unaffected relative group was defined as asymptomatic family members who had at least one first-degree relative with schizophrenia and one or more other affected first- to third-degree relatives. A total of 35 unaffected relatives and 34 healthy controls underwent diffusion-weighted and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to examine the white matter connectivity between the thalamus and orbitofrontal cortex using probabilistic tractography.

Results:

After controlling for age and sex, the unaffected relatives exhibited significantly reduced fractional anisotropy values for the left thalamo-orbitofrontal tract compared to that of healthy controls, F(1, 65) = 6.93, p = 0.011, effect size partial η2 = 0.10. However, there was no association between the Genetic Liability Score and fractional anisotropy in the left thalamo-orbitofrontal tracts.

Conclusion:

Our findings in the unaffected relatives of schizophrenia patients, which are in line with the alterations reported in schizophrenia, first-episode psychosis and clinical high risk for psychosis, highlight a possible genetic contribution to the proposed biomarker of altered thalamocortical connectivity.
The iHOPE-20 study: Relationships between and prospective predictors of remission, clinical recovery, personal recovery and resilience 20 years on from a first episode psychosis
Authors: O’Keeffe Donal , Hannigan Ailish , Doyle Roisin , Kinsella Anthony , Sheridan Ann , Kelly Aine , Madigan Kevin , Lawlor Elizabeth , Clarke Mary
Published: February 2019

Objective:

Knowledge of outcome in psychotic illness is limited by the paucity of very long-term epidemiologically representative studies of incidence first episode psychosis (FEP) cohorts that measure and compare outcomes reflecting modern clinical practice, mental health policy and research agendas. Our study aimed to address this gap.

Method:

iHOPE-20 is a prospective 20-year follow-up study of a FEP incidence cohort ( N = 171) conducted between 2014 and 2017 in Ireland. Data from previous studies and medical records were used to recruit cohort members. We assessed remission, clinical recovery, personal recovery and resilience at 20 years; explored the relationships between these outcomes and examined the predictive value of baseline characteristics in determining them.

Results:

At follow-up, 20 out of 171 cohort members (11.70%) were deceased. We assessed 80 out of 151 alive cohort members (53% recruitment rate); 65% were in remission; 35.2% were in Full Functional Recovery and 53.7% confirmed they were fully recovered according to their personal definition of recovery. A complex array of relationships between outcomes was found. Outcomes were better for people who had a short duration of untreated psychosis, displayed higher premorbid social adjustment (between the ages of 5–11) and at baseline, were older, not living alone, in full-time employment, given a non-affective diagnosis, and had lower Global Assessment of Functioning scores.

Conclusion:

Among participants, full remission of psychotic symptoms and personally defined recovery was not just possible but likely in the very long term. However, attaining positive functional outcomes and building resilience in FEP remain key challenges for mental health services.
Assessing the Legitimacy of “Open” and “Closed” Data Partnerships for Sustainable Development
Authors: Rasche Andreas , Morsing Mette , Wetter Erik
Published: February 2019

This article examines the legitimacy attached to different types of multi-stakeholder data partnerships occurring in the context of sustainable development. We develop a framework to assess the democratic legitimacy of two types of data partnerships: open data partnerships (where data and insights are mainly freely available) and closed data partnerships (where data and insights are mainly shared within a network of organizations). Our framework specifies criteria for assessing the legitimacy of relevant partnerships with regard to their input legitimacy as well as their output legitimacy. We demonstrate which particular characteristics of open and closed partnerships can be expected to influence an analysis of their input and output legitimacy.
On Deciding to Accelerate: High-Ability Students Identify Key Considerations
Authors: Dare Lynn , Nowicki Elizabeth Agnes , Smith Susen
Published: February 2019

Acceleration is a well-researched educational intervention supporting positive outcomes for high-ability students. However, access to acceleration may be restricted due to educators’ misapprehensions about this practice. To better understand whether students share educators’ concerns, our study explored 26 high-ability students’ beliefs about important considerations in grade-based acceleration. Seventeen high-ability students who had accelerated (age 9-14 years) participated in group concept mapping activities, which involved sorting and rating a list of student-generated considerations. We applied multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis to the sorted data to create a structured conceptualization of students’ advice on deciding to accelerate. Our analyses revealed the following six key concepts, from most to least important: (a) Best Learning Environment, (b) Child’s Preferences, (c) Abilities Across Different Subjects, (d) Peer Group, (e) Context and School Support, and (f) Social Considerations. Our interpretations include comparison of high-ability students’ advice to existing acceleration guidelines. Practical implications are discussed.
Highland to High Fashion: The Development of a Women Cooperative in Ladakh
Authors: Bahuguna Abhilasha , Ramaswamy G. Prasanna
Published: February 2019

Pashmina or cashmere is one of the most expensive natural fabrics in the world, and yet the lives of those who produce this rare fibre are the toughest ones. This article seeks to analyse the various stages in the creation and development of the Looms of Ladakh Women Cooperative under Project Laktsal of the district administration Leh. It is an initiative to empower rural Ladakhi women by endowing them with skills necessary to add value to raw pashmina and woollen fibres to turn them into the high-end products perennially in demand. Sharing the lessons learnt in bringing together 150 uneducated, unemployed women from different and distant villages and in training and uniting them by the creation of a cooperative society is the endeavour of the article. It analyses various steps involved in building forward and backward linkages for the organisation and imparting the women with such diverse skills as knitting, weaving, production planning, marketing and financial management. The article also tries to put the effort in the right perspective, giving an idea of the extremely tough conditions faced on a daily basis by the women of rural Ladakh.
Odisha: Analysing Some Facets of the State Development Strategy
Authors: Mitra Partha Pratim
Published: February 2019

The article examines whether there has been a sharp development focus in the state towards the ten coastal districts of Odisha. Our analysis shows that many of the coastal districts did inherently well in agriculture, but in the area of MSMEs, the non-coastal districts have done relatively better than the coastal districts. Marginalisation of labour was also strong in many coastal districts as compared to the non-coastal districts. Since the coastal districts are primarily agricultural, they did not gain significantly from the development strategy adopted by the state of diversifying into industries and services. The state government has attempted to shift its focus outside the coastal districts and also encourage large industries in the power, metals and mineral sectors. Such a strategy has resulted in the creation of certain growth centres in the non-coastal districts but did not have a major impact in reducing the dependence of the population on agriculture.
Prime Minister’s Office: The Fulcrum of Indian Administration
Authors: Jha Rajani Ranjan
Published: February 2019

Prime minister occupies a pivotal position in any parliamentary system of government. At the time of India’s Independence, the prime minister’s office (PMO) started working as a low profile non-constitutional and non-statutory body. But within less than two decades, the PMO emerged as an institution with a formidable influence in policymaking. It was sometimes labelled as the parallel government. This article is a modest attempt to discuss the origin and development of the PMO in India right from Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to PM Narendra Modi. In the process, it deals briefly with the organisational structure of PMO and the role of the principal secretary to the PMO. Additionally, the article examines how with every prime minister importance of the PMO changes. This nerve centre of power basks in the reflected glory of its incumbent, the Prime Minister of India.
Thermal plasticity deformation buckling analysis on the carbon fiber-reinforced aluminum matrix composite material
Authors: Huang Xiupei , Li Zhuoyun
Published: February 2019

As light weight and durability have become the important design objectives for the modern aircraft structures, the carbon fiber-reinforced resin matrix composites are widely applied to the aircraft structures for it can reduce the airframe weight effectively at the same time of guaranteeing the load-carrying capacity. In aircraft structures, the mechanical connection remains the important connection pattern for the composite material and the laminated structures; however, existence of the connecting hole has resulted in the stress concentration of structures while the borehole fatigue breakdown of parts is the main failure mode of aircraft structures. According to the low fatigue life of the aircraft connection structures, research on the hole extrusion and reinforcement technology on the carbon fiber-reinforced composite material and the laminated structure is made in this paper.
Research on financial risk linkage measurement based on VAR method and EVT theory
Authors: Ding Lei
Published: February 2019

The financial market of China has gradually become matured in recent years, while the price of financial risks has also arisen accordingly, how to give play to the currency regulation and control in the financial market field has become the key topic faced by various-level governments, this paper puts forward a financial market price equilibrium model estimation method based on FB Bayes algorithm. Firstly, this paper, based on the effective restriction of financial institutions, financial market institutions, and credit agencies on the financial market price, establishes a financial market price equilibrium model estimation model, puts forward a FB compressed Bayes filtering algorithm to effectively handle the noise and uncertainty problems existed in the financial market price, realize the effective estimation on the financial market price equilibrium model, deeply analyzes the influence of monetary policy on the price trend of domestic financial market. The experiment result shows that in view of the financial risk prevention of the financial market price in our country, the country should formulate prudent polities for cooperation to effectively reduce the credit value ratio of financial market field.
Labour Reallocation in Recession and Recovery: Evidence for Europe
Authors: Bartelsman Eric , Lopez-Garcia Paloma , Presidente Giorgio
Published: February 2019

This paper builds upon Bartelsman, Lopez-Garcia, and Presidente (2018) and provides empirical evidence on the cyclical features of labour reallocation in a sample of European Union (EU) countries over the Great Recession and the slow recovery. The analysis makes use of cross-country micro-aggregated data on firm dynamics and productivity from release 6 of the ECB CompNet database. While productivity-enhancing reallocation generally is counter-cyclical, with a stronger effect providing a silver lining in downturns, it was weaker during the Great Recession in the EU, but reverted back to more normal patters in the most recent years.
Disaggregating Political Authority: What’s Wrong with Rawlsian Civil Disobedience?
Authors: Jubb Robert
Published: February 2019

John Rawls is a central figure in contemporary philosophical and theoretical discussions of civil disobedience, which hope to contribute to significant political debates around when and in which forms political dissent, protest and resistance are appropriate. Ignoring the frame in which Rawls discusses civil disobedience has led critics to wrongly attack his theory for being too restrictive when it is more likely to be too permissive. That permissiveness depends on treating any political order which does not come close to fulfilling his theory of justice as absolutely illegitimate. In this sense, Rawls’ theory of political authority is binary and demanding. The problems his theory shares with most others, including his critics’, show that political authority needs to be disaggregated to make sense of the conditions under which different forms of protest and resistance are appropriate.
Discrimination and Policies of Immigrant Selection in Liberal States
Authors: Ellermann Antje , Goenaga Agustín
Published: February 2019

How should liberal societies select prospective members? A conventional reading of immigration history posits that whereas ascriptive characteristics drove immigration policy in the past, contemporary policy is based on the principle of nondiscrimination. Yet a closer look at the characteristics of those admitted reveals systematic group biases that run counter to liberalism’s core moral commitments. This article first discusses liberal states’ basic moral obligation to treat their citizens with equal respect. It then identifies ways in which the group biases produced by immigration policy violate that principle, when states either deprive their citizens of fundamental rights or stigmatize them through hierarchical constructions of citizenship. Three mechanisms are presented—structural bias, profiling, and positive selection—by which seemingly liberal admissions policies produce illiberal outcomes. The empirical analysis explores the resulting discriminatory group biases in the context of language and income conditionalities on family migration, excessive demand restrictions against economic migrants, and visa waivers for international travelers. We conclude that immigration reforms that mitigate, if not erase, these morally problematic patterns are within the reach of liberal states.
Conquest and Conflict: The Colonial Roots of Maoist Violence in India
Authors: Verghese Ajay , Teitelbaum Emmanuel
Published: February 2019

Does colonialism have long-term effects on political stability? This question is addressed in a study of India’s Naxalite insurgency, a Maoist rebellion characterized by its left-wing proponents as having roots in the colonial period. The article highlights three mechanisms linking colonialism with contemporary Naxalite violence—land inequality, discriminatory policies toward low-caste and tribal groups, and upper-caste-dominated administrative institutions. It analyzes how the degree of British influence relates to Naxalite conflict in 589 districts from 1980 to 2011. A positive association is found between British influence and the strength of the Naxalite rebellion across all of India, within both the “Red Corridor” region and former princely states. The results are robust to a coarsened exact matching analysis and a wide array of robustness checks. The findings call into question whether the supposedly beneficial administrative and institutional legacies of colonialism can be evaluated without reference to their social costs.
Japan’s Ambivalent Pursuit of Shareholder Capitalism
Authors: Vogel Steven K.
Published: February 2019

Could international financial capital impose shareholder sovereignty on Japan, the ultimate bastion of stakeholder capitalism? As the Japanese economy descended from boom to bust in the early 1990s, government and industry leaders called for a decisive move toward US-style shareholder capitalism, and increasing foreign share ownership exerted strong pressure to adapt corporate governance practices to Anglo-American norms. In practice, however, the government gave firms more options for restructuring but did not make them more beholden to shareholders. Firms on their part favored superficial adjustments to prop up share prices rather than fundamental changes, because they sought to preserve the strengths of their traditional business models. This article explains how marketplace developments, domestic political dynamics, and corporate strategies combined to produce the distinctive pattern of Japanese corporate governance reforms since the 1990s. It concludes with an assessment of the consequences of these reforms for managers, workers, shareholders, and the general public.
U.S. Prison Seminaries: Structural Charity, Religious Establishment, and Neoliberal Corrections
Authors: Hallett Michael , Johnson Bryon , Hays Joshua , Jang Sung Joon , Duwe Grant
Published: February 2019

Using archival and site-based research, this article explores operational practices at six U.S. prison seminary programs regarding concepts of religious establishment. Further highlighted is a shift toward faith-based volunteerism as a “structural charity” in correctional budgeting. While religious programs offer powerfully transformative access to social capital for many inmates, the recent insertion of Christian “seminaries” into U.S. prisons arguably fosters religious establishment in four key areas: a lack of state neutrality toward religion, excessive state entanglement with religious service providers, inadequate solicitation of alternative programming, and a de facto measure of coercion in delivery of services.
Syndromic Surveillance of Emergency Department Visits for Acute Adverse Effects of Marijuana, Tri-County Health Department, Colorado, 2016-2017
Authors: Marx Grace E. , Chen Yushiuan , Askenazi Michele , Albanese Bernadette A.
Published: February 2019

Objectives:

In Colorado, legalization of recreational marijuana in 2014 increased public access to marijuana and might also have led to an increase in emergency department (ED) visits. We examined the validity of using syndromic surveillance data to detect marijuana-associated ED visits by comparing the performance of surveillance queries with physician-reviewed medical records.

Methods:

We developed queries of combinations of marijuana-specific International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) diagnostic codes or keywords. We applied these queries to ED visit data submitted through the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-Based Epidemics (ESSENCE) syndromic surveillance system at 3 hospitals during 2016-2017. One physician reviewed the medical records of ED visits identified by ≥1 query and calculated the positive predictive value (PPV) of each query. We defined cases of acute adverse effects of marijuana (AAEM) as determined by the ED provider’s clinical impression during the visit.

Results:

Of 44 942 total ED visits, ESSENCE queries detected 453 (1%) as potential AAEM cases; a review of 422 (93%) medical records identified 188 (45%) true AAEM cases. Queries using ICD-10 diagnostic codes or keywords in the triage note identified all true AAEM cases; PPV varied by hospital from 36% to 64%. Of the 188 true AAEM cases, 109 (58%) were among men and 178 (95%) reported intentional use of marijuana. Compared with noncases of AAEM, cases were significantly more likely to be among non-Colorado residents than among Colorado residents and were significantly more likely to report edible marijuana use rather than smoked marijuana use ( P < .001).

Conclusions:

ICD-10 diagnostic codes and triage note keyword queries in ESSENCE, validated by medical record review, can be used to track ED visits for AAEM.
Numerical investigation on the flow field of a modified vortex spinning system for producing core-spun yarns
Authors: Pei Zeguang , Chen Ge
Published: February 2019

A modified vortex spinning technology, which produces core-spun yarns by means of a tangentially injected swirling airflow, is of great prospect in view of its production rate and yarn structure. In this paper, a numerical study based on computational fluid dynamics is presented to investigate the characteristics of the flow field of this system. In the simulation, the effect of the rotating front rollers on the flow field is taken into consideration. Flow characteristics inside the spinning nozzle, flow field of the front rollers, and streamline patterns have been revealed. The results show that a high-speed swirling flow is generated in the near-wall region in the nozzle chamber due to the ejection of air-jets from the tangential injectors. An asymmetric sub-pressure zone is formed in the core region of the nozzle chamber where the interactions of the high-speed swirling flow and three streams of secondary flows generate three vortices. Airflows in the vicinity of the front rollers generally converge toward the nozzle entrance from all directions except those in the boundary layer of the front roller surfaces, which is helpful for the delivery of fibers into the nozzle. A vortex is formed above the top roller and another beneath the bottom roller. The results of the streamline patterns show that the flow characteristics of the modified vortex spinning can facilitate the formation process of the core-spun yarn, which presents a qualitative explanation to the dynamic behavior of the fibers that was experimentally obtained.
From resilience to multi-species flourishing: (Re)imagining urban-environmental governance in Penang, Malaysia
Authors: Connolly Creighton
Published: February 2019

This article uses the concept of multi-species flourishing to evaluate the potential of emergent urban governance initiatives in Penang, Malaysia, for achieving more socially and environmentally just forms of urban development. In doing so, the article offers an empirical examination of increasing development pressures on the forested hillsides of Penang, and the significant environmental and socio-cultural implications associated with this activity. This includes the significant flash-flooding and landslides in 2016 and 2017 that have been attributed to unscrupulous hillside developments and deforestation on the island for condominium and highway development. In tracing local responses to these developments, the article draws attention to the various more-than-human relationships that have been mobilised in preventing further degradation of the environment. It also re-visits the concept of environmental imaginaries to illustrate the close relationship between environmental and social wellbeing. The article argues that it is important to move beyond concepts of resilience, which advocate the implementation of technology and engineering measures to adapt to, rather than resist, the environmental shocks associated with intensive urban development. The research for this article has been conducted through participatory research with local civil society groups, and aims to evaluate the role of both governmental and non-state actors in these efforts and the challenges faced in doing so. The article concludes that research on urban resilience and urban governance must move beyond human-centred modes of thought and practice that regard cities as operating outside of ecological systems.
Bifurcated urban integration: The selective dis- and re-assembly of infrastructures
Authors: Macrorie Rachel , Marvin Simon
Published: February 2019

Urban integration (UI) has emerged as the guiding maxim for enabling efficient resource flows and smart and connected cites. The last decade has led to renewed interest in exploiting interconnections to optimise city capacities in urban policy, practice and research. However, the imperative for integration across resources, infrastructures, sectors and disciplines remains largely unquestioned, and its socio-political and environmental implications receive little critical attention. This paper subjects the ideas and practices of UI to scrutiny. We argue that integration-in-practice (as opposed to integration-in-theory) is partial and selective in its objects of combination and outcomes. The key issue this raises is whether the promise of new metropolitan-wide imaginaries of horizontal integration gives way to more selective logics of vertical integration that privilege socially and spatially valued enclaves. Rather than challenge urban splintering, UI practices would therefore reinforce urban infrastructure divides. The paper argues that a subtle shift is taking place in the UI discourse that whilst promising resource sustainability and metropolitan inclusivity, re-prioritises and re-intensifies more selective infrastructural planning processes. We term this new emerging mode bifurcated urban integration (BUI).
Testing Complex Social Theories With Causal Mediation Analysis and G-Computation: Toward a Better Way to Do Causal Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Pósch Krisztián
Published: February 2019

Complex social scientific theories are conventionally tested using linear structural equation modeling (SEM). However, the underlying assumptions of linear SEM often prove unrealistic, making the decomposition of direct and indirect effects problematic. Recent advancements in causal mediation analysis can help to address these shortcomings, allowing for causal inference when a new set of identifying assumptions are satisfied. This article reviews how these ideas can be generalized to multiple mediators, with a focus on the posttreatment confounding and causal ordering cases. Using the potential outcome framework as a rigorous tool for causal inference, the application is the theory of procedural justice policing. Analysis of data from two randomized experiments shows that making similar parametric assumptions to SEMs and using G-computation improve the viability of effect decomposition. The article concludes with a discussion of how causal mediation analysis improves upon SEM and the potential limitation of the methods.
An Analysis of Parents' Reports on Educational Services for Their Children with Albinism
Authors: Corn Anne L. , Lusk Kelly E.
Published: February 2019

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to gain information from parents in the United States about their children with albinism. The first article (in this issue) focused on the data from this study that addressed medical and low vision care. This article focuses on information and services related to the education of children with albinism.

Methods

An online questionnaire was used to collect data for this study from parents of children with albinism. Representing 223 children with albinism from 40 states in the U.S., 192 parents completed surveys and had opportunities to submit additional information.

Results

A snapshot of the data indicates that, as a whole, parents perceive their children to do well academically, but they experience social and emotional challenges; 98 children were receiving direct instruction from a teacher of students with visual impairments and 84 were receiving consultation services. Although parents were generally satisfied with their level of involvement in the development of their children's education plans, many could not provide key information about the assessments their children had received, their children's reading rates, or the services with which their children were being provided.

Discussion

These data illuminate the fact that, despite the premise of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) that parents be equal partners in the education of their children with special needs, these parents of children with albinism were not as informed about the assessments and services that their children were receiving as might be expected. Findings also suggest the possibility that students with albinism may not be receiving appropriate educational services to address the limitations imposed by their low vision. In particular, it appears that these students, most of whom will be non-drivers, are not receiving orientation and mobility services. In addition, there was evidence that over half of these children may not be receiving instruction in the use of low vision devices.

Implications for practitioners

The data gathered in this study provide directions for educators who work with children who have albinism and their families, as well as for those who design and administer services for children with visual impairments. Based on these reports from parents, it appears that children with albinism are not being assessed in the areas key to understanding their functioning and, although as a group they are doing well academically, other needs related to the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) are not being addressed as frequently. Teachers of students with visual impairments may want to be more explicit when describing to parents the assessments on which their educational recommendations are being made. Further research is needed to determine if children with low vision are being provided with educational services based on educational assessments and needs or if other administrative factors are driving these services.
Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Difference: The Experiences of Eight Adults with Albinism in Puerto Rico
Authors: Estrada-Hernandez Noel
Published: February 2019

Introduction

This article explored the experiences of eight persons with albinism in Puerto Rico in their quest for educational, social, and employment opportunities.

Methods

Volunteers participated in structured interviews that yielded the information presented in this article.

Results

Four main areas were identified that best described the stories of these participants: knowledge of and attitudes toward albinism, resilience and other supports, the challenges of albinism, and current needs.

Discussion

It is clear from the participants' stories that physical attributes are still a prime factor in determining a variety of interactions for persons with albinism, many with potential effects on quality of life.

Implications for practitioners

This article contributes to the literature documenting psychosocial aspects of the albinism condition. It provides evidence that environmental barriers and attitudes generally affect interactions with persons with albinism, knowledge that can be used by professionals who work with individuals with albinism.