bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new deep water chiton (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from hydrothermal vent ecosystems in the Okinawa Trough, Japan
Authors: SIGWART JULIA D. , CHEN CHONG
Published: December 2018

Recent expeditions exploring deep-sea hydrothermal vent ecosystems in the Okinawa Trough, East China Sea resulted in the collection of a hitherto undescribed species of polyplacophoran mollusc found living at three different vent fields at depths of 950–1178 m. This new chiton is a member of the small lepidopleuran family Protochitonidae and is morphologically similar to Hanleyella japonica Saito, 1997. The two species differ in small morphological differences of the valve shape and elevation, are divergent in the standard molecular barcoding mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI), and furthermore the known distribution range of H. japonica is considerably more northern and also shallower. The new species is described herein as Hanleyella henrici n. sp. Additional in situ observations taken in the course of collecting material for this study indicates that chitons are more abundant in the vicinity of hydrothermal vents than was previously appreciated, and perhaps more speciose.
Two new Brazilian species of Cis Latreille, 1796 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Ciidae)
Authors: DE ALMEIDA SABRINA DA SILVA PINHEIRO , LOPES-ANDRADE CRISTIANO
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we present the descriptions of two species of Cis Latreille, C. fiuzai sp. nov. and C. gumiercostai sp. nov., based on external morphology including male genitalia. We propose that these new species belong to the C. comptus group. These species are known from Araponga and Cardeal Mota (Minas Gerais State, Southeastern Brazil), respectively. Cis gumiercostai is the fourth species of Ciidae reported from the Cerrado vegetation (Brazilian Savana).
Heavy Rainfall Associated with Double Low-Level Jets over Southern China. Part II: Convection Initiation
Authors: Du Yu , Chen Guixing
Published: December 2018

Heavy rainfall that occurred at the south coast of China on 10–11 May 2014 was associated with a synoptic-system-related low-level jet (SLLJ) and a boundary layer jet (BLJ). To clarify the role of the double low-level jets in convection initiation (CI), we perform convective-permitting simulations using a nonhydrostatic mesoscale model. The simulations reproduce the occurrence location and mesoscale evolution of new convective cells as well as their small-scale wavelike structures at the elevated layers, which are generally consistent with radar observations despite some differences in their orientation. The nighttime BLJ over the northern South China Sea strengthens the convergence at ~950 hPa near the coast where the BLJ’s northern terminus reaches the coastal terrain. Meanwhile, the SLLJ to the south of the inland cold front provides divergence at ~700 hPa near the SLLJ’s entrance region. Such low-level convergence and midlevel divergence collectively produce strong mesoscale lifting for CI at the coast. In addition to the enhanced mesoscale lifting, the double low-level jets also provide favorable conditions for the superimposed small-scale disturbances that can serve as effective moistening mechanisms of the lower troposphere during CI. In a sensitivity experiment with coastal terrain removed, CI still occurs near the coast but is delayed and weaker compared to the control run. This latter experiment suggests that double low-level jets and their coupling indeed exert key effects on CI, while the BLJ colliding with terrain may enhance coastal convergence for amplifying CI. These findings provide new insights into the occurrence of coastal heavy rainfall in the warm sector far ahead of the fronts.
“The Might of My Own Hand Has Gotten Me This Wealth”: Reflections on Wealth and Poverty in the Hebrew Bible and Today
Authors: Kaminsky Joel S.
Published: December 2018

The growing gap between the wealthiest and poorest members of society is a pressing social concern regularly invoked in discussions surrounding taxation, the minimum wage, and the social safety net. Advocates of particular positions at times reference various biblical passages. This essay examines several relevant themes and passages within the Hebrew Bible in order to explore ways the Bible might be brought into productive conversation with these contemporary issues.
A Marketing Appraisal of the Robinson-Patman Act
Authors: Robbins W. David
Published: December 2018

The Robinson-Patman Act is the most basic statute affecting competitive pricing. Yet too few businessmen are aware of significant changes that have occurred in the interpretation and enforcement of the Act.

Some pricing actions that were held illegal under earlier interpretation are today considered “a necessary part of competition.” The author also interprets other changed aspects of the Act.
The Elusive Element in Scientific Marketing
Authors: Weir Walter
Published: December 2018

Marketing plans are made to guide future action, and research is generally employed to provide “clues” as to what the future will be. Yet research can do no more than to sift the past. Nevertheless, businessmen demand the best assurance they can obtain that their plans for the future will be “right.”

Walter Weir believes that the closest approach to reading the future is in the creative imagination and the use of “fictions.” Until the social sciences improve, he maintains, this is the best means available for the purpose.
Marketing's Interaction with Other Functional Units: A Conceptual Framework and Empirical Evidence
Authors: Ruekert Robert W. , Walker Orville C.
Published: December 2018

The authors develop a framework for examining how and why marketing personnel interact with personnel in other functional areas in planning, implementing, and evaluating marketing activities. Building on theoretical developments from social systems theory and resource dependence models, they provide a general framework that can be used to understand such interaction across different functional areas and different types of marketing positions. A partial test of this framework based on the responses of 151 managers in three different divisions of a Fortune 500 firm shows preliminary support for the propositions developed.
Transferability of Preference Models across Segments and Geographic Areas
Authors: Umesh U. N.
Published: December 2018

Differences in preference models between segments often are influenced by the background characteristics of individuals. Based on the relationship between preference weights and background characteristics, predictions of preference are made for new segments and geographic areas. Preference models are found to be transferable in some cases, with better predictions for new segments than for geographic areas. Generalizability of results, limitations of research, and conditions for finding transferable models are discussed.
The Market Maven: A Diffuser of Marketplace Information
Authors: Feick Lawrence F. , Price Linda L.
Published: December 2018

The research focus is individuals who have information about many kinds of products, places to shop, and other facets of the market, and initiate discussions with and respond to information requests from other consumers. Specifically, the authors develop a Likert-type scale to measure consumers’ propensity to provide general shopping and marketplace information. Consumers scoring high on this scale are referred to as “market mavens.” Based on a national sample of 1531 households, the findings indicate that market mavens exist and that other consumers recognize them. Consumers believe market mavens are influential in their purchasing decisions. The authors document the distinctness of market mavens from other influencers. They test several propositions about the market attitudes and behaviors of market mavens, but find no clear socioeconomic and demographic profile of these influencers. The results have implications for marketing managers and suggest a reexamination of the approach to information diffusion.
Advertising Claim Objectivity: Antecedents and Effects
Authors: Darley William K. , Smith Robert E.
Published: December 2018

The authors examine the role of advertising claim objectivity under central route processing conditions. Past studies are reviewed and two distinct components of claim objectivity are identified: attribute tangibility and factualness of description. Specific predictions are made concerning the effects of claim objectivity on perceived ad credibility, brand beliefs, ad attitudes, brand attitudes, and purchase intentions. Using the Elaboration Likelihood Model different results are predicted for print and broadcast media. A study is conducted in which the degree of claim objectivity (objective, subjective, and mixed) and the type of media (radio or print) are manipulated as independent variables while various message and consumer variables are controlled or measured as covariates. Results show that both tangibility and factualness contribute to claim objectivity effects, that objective claims are more effective than subjective claims, and that no content differences emerge between print and radio media. Implications for marketing research and practice are discussed.
The Effect of Background Music on Ad Processing: A Contingency Explanation
Authors: Kellaris James J. , Cox Anthony D. , Cox Dena
Published: December 2018

Music is an increasingly prominent and expensive feature of broadcast ads, yet its effects on message reception are controversial. The authors propose and test a contingency that may help resolve this controversy. Experimental results suggest that message reception is influenced by the interplay of two musical properties: attention-gaining value and music-message congruency. Increasing audience attention to music enhances message reception when the music evokes message-congruent (versus incongruent) thoughts.
Marketing and Literature: The Anxiety of Academic Influence
Authors: Brown Stephen
Published: December 2018

Literary criticism, according to leading theorist Frank Lentricchia, involves striking texts together to see if they spark. Although many scholars have successfully struck marketing texts together, the sparks they have produced pertain primarily to marketplace phenomena rather than the academic marketing literature itself. Drawing on Bloom's “anxiety of influence” thesis, this article strikes together the published works of two prominent marketing thinkers, Theodore Levitt and Morris Holbrook. It argues that far from being positioned at opposite ends of the academic spectrum—pure versus applied—they are, in literary terms at least, precursor and ephebe, father and son, one and the same.
A New Method for Evaluating Stochastic Models of Brand Choice
Authors: Aaker David A.
Published: December 2018

This article explores the use of a brand choice stochastic model's mean value function in evaluating two models empirically, using a common set of purchase data. The linear learning model fit the data well, but its mean value function was not capable of making reasonable predictions of successive, aggregate purchasing statistics. Another brand choice model, the new trier model, was found to perform much better. The results suggest that model tests should not be restricted to the usual goodness-of-fit test, especially in situations of non-stationarity. A structural comparison of the two models focuses on their different approaches to nonstationarity.
The Dissonance Model in Post-Decision Product Evaluation
Authors: Cohen Joel B. , Goldberg Marvin E.
Published: December 2018

Post-decision cognitive reevaluation of instant coffee was primarily influenced by confirmation-disconfirmation experience with the product. Prior information resulting from brand familiarity influenced the direction of post-decision reevaluation.
Empirical Studies on Individual Response to Exposure Patterns
Authors: Lodish Leonard M.
Published: December 2018

The market response model of the MEDIAC media planning system is used as a base for discussion of empirical studies relating to the advertising phenomena of response to repeated exposure and forgetting. The model provides hypotheses to examine and a common base for analysis.
Using Cluster Analysis to Improve Marketing Experiments
Authors: Day George S. , Heeler Roger M.
Published: December 2018

When the selection of a sample of stores or cities requires a high degree of similarity among the test units in order to ensure a sensitive experiment, the sample may no longer represent the market. These conflicting requirements can be satisfied by choosing the sample from clusters displayed in a reduced space representation of the market.
Predicting Preferences on Experimental Bundles of Attributes: A Comparison of Models
Authors: Huber Joel
Published: December 2018

This study tests the ability of various models to predict individual preferences on stimuli defined by physical characteristics. Within all models, metric routines were found to be superior to nonmetric routines. Across models, differences in predictive ability were not found to be great compared to pragmatic or theoretical differences.
An Experimental Analysis of a Salesman's Expert and Referent Bases of Social Power in the Buyer-Seller Dyad
Authors: Busch Paul , Wilson David T.
Published: December 2018

A salesman's expert and referent social power bases are analyzed experimentally to assess their impact on the customer's trust in the salesman, attitude, and behavioral intentions. Findings indicate that expertise is generally more effective than referent power in producing the desired customer changes.
Mail Survey Premiums and Response Bias
Authors: Whitmore William J.
Published: December 2018

Does the inclusion of a premium in a mail survey not only increase the response rate, but also bias the responses? An analysis comparing respondents who were sent a premium with those who were not reveals little to suggest that such a systematic bias results from inclusion of a premium with a mail survey. Certain previously cited biases were not found significant in this study.
On the Analysis of Qualitative Data in Marketing Research
Authors: Green Paul E. , Carmone Frank J. , Wachspress David P.
Published: December 2018

Logit and log-linear models are new techniques for analyzing categorical data. Each of these models is described and applied to a problem involving consumer adoption of a new telecommunications service. The models provide probability-of-adoption predictions that can be used to select favorable market areas for promoting the service.
Selected Results from the 1972–73 Diary Surveys
Authors: Walsh T. C.
Published: December 2018

The author addresses two methodological aspects of the Diary Survey conducted as part of the 1972–73 Consumer Expenditures Program by the U.S. Bureau of the Census for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Diary Survey was a record-keeping survey in which sample households were asked to record all their expenditures for a 14-day period. The survey was conducted over a two-year period from July 1972 to June 1974. Part I of the article describes the actions taken during the course of the survey to improve response rates, which were considerably below expectations during the initial weeks of the survey. Part II describes and presents results of an experiment undertaken to determine the effects on response rates of offering a modest cash incentive to sample households for maintaining a record of their expenses for two weeks.
The Significance of Statistical Significance Tests in Marketing Research
Authors: Sawyer Alan G. , Peter J. Paul
Published: December 2018

Classical statistical significance testing is the primary method by which marketing researchers empirically test hypotheses and draw inferences about theories. The authors discuss the interpretation and value of classical statistical significance tests and suggest that classical inferential statistics may be misinterpreted and overvalued by marketing researchers in judging research results. Replication, Bayesian hypothesis testing, meta-analysis, and strong inference are examined as approaches for augmenting conventional statistical analyses.
Personal and Organizational Variables: Their Relative Effect on Reward Valences of Industrial Salespeople
Authors: Ingram Thomas N. , Bellenger Danny N.
Published: December 2018

The authors investigate the relationship between personal and organizational characteristics and the attractiveness of various rewards to industrial salespeople. Data were gathered from 241 industrial salespeople and the sales managers of 17 participating industrial firms. Of the 84 relationships examined, 18 statistically significant relationships are found between such predictor variables as age, job tenure, income level, specific self-esteem, compensation plan base, promotion opportunity rate, and recognition rate and criterion variables which are the valences for various rewards. Organizational variables are found to be more promising than personal characteristics in terms of their relationship to the attactiveness of various rewards.
The Accuracy of Telephone Call Data Collected by Diary Methods
Authors: McKenzie John
Published: December 2018

British Telecom has undertaken extensive investigations of response and recording biases in the context of collecting telephone call information by diary methods. Several factors are shown to influence response rates and recording accuracy; in particular, strong relationships with the level of (telephone) usage are identified.
Improving Random Respondent Selection in Telephone Surveys
Authors: O'Rourke Diane , Blair Johnny
Published: December 2018

A split-ballot respondent selection experiment was conducted on a probability sample of Illinois residents surveyed by telephone. Respondent selection was conducted in two ways: in a random half of the 2252 households, all adults were enumerated and one was selected randomly; in the other half, household informants were asked to identify the adult in the household whose birthday was the most recent. Results indicate that the birthday method is valid and effective.
Measurement Issues in Time-Series Research: Reliability and Validity Assessment in Modeling the Macroeconomic Effects of Advertising
Authors: Didow Nicholas M. , Franke George R.
Published: December 2018

Most time-series research fails to consider measurement issues that are addressed regularly in cross-sectional research designs. However, to measure specified constructs in time-series research, scales may be developed whose reliability and validity may be assessed as rigorously as in cross-sectional research. The authors describe and illustrate a procedure for developing time-series measures using Box-Jenkins ARIMA modeling techniques in an investigation of the effects of national advertising on consumption.
Attraction versus Linear and Multiplicative Market Share Models: An Empirical Evaluation
Authors: Brodie Roderick , De Kluyver Cornelis A.
Published: December 2018

Linear and multiplicative market share models are compared with the attraction specification on the basis of both predictive and descriptive measures. The data used represent 15 brands in three different markets. The results show that linear and multiplicative models with brand-specific parameters estimated by OLS or GLS may perform as well as or better than the attraction specification. The failure of parameter restrictions and ex-post normalization to improve prediction power is explained in terms of the heterogeneity in the estimated parameters. This finding is consistent across brands and models and suggests that the hypothesis of equal response parameters across brands should be tested formally before such restrictions are imposed. The combined results suggest that the attraction model may have considerable intuitive appeal, but that its superiority for descriptive and predictive purposes is not yet established.
Management Judgment Forecasts, Composite Forecasting Models, and Conditional Efficiency
Authors: Moriarty Mark M. , Adams Arthur J.
Published: December 2018

In an empirical study of sales forecasts, management judgment forecasts are compared with systematic forecasts (based on the Box-Jenkins ARIMA method). A composite sales forecasting model is developed which incorporates information from these different sources. In most cases forecast improvement apparently can be realized by combining multiple forecast inputs into a composite model. The concept of conditional efficiency then is introduced to evaluate the strength of an individual forecast input to the composite forecast. Upon finding the management judgment forecasts to be conditionally efficient on the basis of the composite model standard, the authors examine the management judgment forecasting task and environment in terms of the conditions which facilitate accurate management judgment predictions.
Output Sector Munificence Effects on the Internal Political Economy of Marketing Channels
Authors: Dwyer F. Robert , Oh Sejo
Published: December 2018

Like any system, a marketing channel will thrive only to the extent it can secure critical resources from the environment. Using a resource dependence perspective, the authors hypothesize that a weaker member's access to relatively munificent output markets can mitigate a power advantage held by the channel partner that otherwise is used to bureaucratize the channel and endanger the quality of the channel relationship. The authors use a structural equation model to analyze data from dealer informants in the auto industry. The results suggest munificence affects the internal workings of the channel.
The Effects of a Direct Mail Coupon on Brand Choice Behavior
Authors: Bawa Kapil , Shoemaker Robert W.
Published: December 2018

The authors examine the effects of a manufacturer coupon on brand choice behavior. The level of coupon redemption and changes in brand choice behavior after redemption are examined as a function of the household's prior probability of purchasing the promoted brand, likelihood of buying a favorite competitive brand, and coupon face value. A model of the coupon redemption decision is developed to predict response to the coupon promotion by different consumer segments. Predictions from the model are tested by using scanner panel data from a field experiment on coupon face values. Coupon redemption rates are found to be much higher among households that have purchased the brand on a regular basis in the past. The results also suggest that most consumers revert to their precoupon choice behavior immediately after their redemption purchase. These and other findings have important implications for the profitability of coupon promotions.
Composite Branding Alliances: An Investigation of Extension and Feedback Effects
Authors: Park C. Whan , Jun Sung Youl , Shocker Allan D.
Published: December 2018

The authors report two studies investigating the effectiveness of a composite brand in a brand extension context. In composite brand extension, a combination of two existing brand names in different positions as header and modifier is used as the brand name for a new product (e.g., Slim-Fast chocolate cakemix by Godiva). The results of both studies reveal that by combining two brands with complementary attribute levels, a composite brand extension appears to have a better attribute profile than a direct extension of the header brand (Study 1) and has a better attribute profile when it consists of two complementary brands than when it consists of two highly favorable but not complementary brands (Study 2). The improved attribute profile seems to enhance a composite's effectiveness in influencing consumer choice and preference (Study 2). In addition, the positions of the constituent brand names in the composite brand name are found to be important in the formation of the composite's attribute profile and its feedback effects on the constituent brands. A composite brand extension has different attribute profiles and feedback effects, depending on the positions of the constituent brand names.
Are the Parts Better than the Whole? The Effects of Decompositional Questions on Judgments of Frequent Behaviors
Authors: Menon Geeta
Published: December 2018

The author investigates whether using a decompositional question (which decomposes an event into subcategories and elicits frequencies at the subcategory level) is effective in increasing the accuracy of frequency judgments elicited in consumer surveys. Results of a study show that the decompositional question makes the process of eliciting frequencies less effortful and enhances the accuracy of the elicited frequencies for frequent, irregular behaviors (i.e., occurring at sporadic intervals), but not for frequent, regular behaviors. Mediational analyses confirm that these effects manifest because the decompositional question triggers an episodic recall strategy, which enhances the efficiency of the judgment formulation process for irregular behaviors but interferes with the normal process for regular behaviors.
Consideration: Review of Research and Prospects for Future Insights
Authors: Roberts John H. , Lattin James M.
Published: December 2018

The authors review the behavioral underpinnings of consideration set formation and revisit the theoretical and empirical evidence that led them to develop an individual level model of consideration. They synthesize the research that has appeared since their 1991 article in the Journal of Marketing Research, examining new ideas, reviewing evolving measurement methodologies, and suggesting several areas for further research that they believe will provide additional insight into the consideration phase of the consumer decision process.
A New Look at Theory of Mind in Children with Ocular and Ocular-Plus Congenital Blindness
Authors: Begeer Sander , Dik Marjolein , Voor De Wind Marieke J. , Asbrock Doreen , Brambring Michael , Kef Sabina
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Delays in theory of mind (ToM) of children who are congenitally blind have often been attributed to the absence of visual and social experiences. However, these delays could also be partly due to neural factors. In some children, the blindness itself has neural causes (ocular-plus blindness). Children whose blindness has an ocular-plus cause may be more delayed in ToM than children with blindness due to ocular causes.

Methods

In the current study, performances of children with congenital ocular-plus blindness ( n = 22) and congenital ocular blindness ( n = 9) were compared with sighted children ( n = 103) on ToM tasks designed for children with blindness.

Results

Compared with sighted children, ToM performance was delayed in children with ocular-plus blindness, but not in children with ocular blindness.

Discussion

ToM development in children with congenital blindness could be related to factors other than the loss of a sensory function and the lack of visual social and communicative experiences.

Implications for practitioners

The specific ToM deficits in children with ocular-plus blindness may help in developing new research paradigms that consider delays in ToM in children with congenital blindness.
Introducing an Intervention Model for Fostering Affective Involvement with Persons who Are Congenitally Deafblind
Authors: Martens Marga A. W. , Janssen Marleen J. , Ruijssenaars Wied A. J. J. M. , Riksen-Walraven J. Marianne
Published: December 2018

The article presented here introduces the Intervention Model for Affective Involvement (IMAI), which was designed to train staff members (for example, teachers, caregivers, support workers) to foster affective involvement during interaction and communication with persons who have congenital deaf-blindness. The model is theoretically underpinned, and practical implications and preliminary implementation findings are discussed.
The Effect of Nonverbal Cues on the Interpretation of Utterances by People with Visual Impairments
Authors: Sak-Wernicka Jolanta
Published: December 2018

Introduction

The purpose of this article is to explore the effect of nonverbal information (gestures and facial expressions) provided in real time on the interpretation of utterances by people with total blindness.

Methods

The article reports on an exploratory study performed on two groups of participants with visual impairments who were tested on their ability to interpret short dialogues provided as a recording with or without audio description (AD). The AD supplied additional information about gestures and facial expressions performed by speakers in the dialogues. The performance of the visually impaired participants was compared with participants who were sighted.

Results

There were no significant differences in the interpretation of the dialogues between the two groups of participants. No significant differences were found between the participants with visual impairments who were and were not provided with AD.

Discussion

The findings lend support for the premise that people with visual impairments are able to make correct assumptions about intentions, feelings, and attitudes of other people on the basis of available information during communication. The results also suggest that the lack of direct access to gestures and facial expressions during communication does not tend to impair the understanding of utterances by people who are blind.
The Role of Specialized Schools for Students with Visual Impairments in the Continuum of Placement Options: The Right Help, at the Right Time, in the Right Place
Authors: McMahon Eugene
Published: December 2018

Introduction

This study examined the current role of specialized schools for students with visual impairments and compares these results to a 1994 study.

Methods

Two surveys were used to gather data from specialized schools that were members of the Council of Schools for the Blind (COSB). The first survey gathered information about current enrollment in K-12, preschool, early intervention, and postgraduate programs. Data were also obtained from an ongoing longitudinal study of 2007–2012 graduates of specialized schools.

Results

Enrollment levels at specialized schools were the same as when measured in 1994. The sample had a higher percentage of students with additional disabilities than in the past, but academic programs still played a significant role at these specialized schools, with over 60% of students with visual impairment and no additional disabilities attending college after graduation. The study found that 80% of the specialized schools were involved in outreach activities, with nearly 50% providing direct instructional services to students attending school in general education environments. Specialized schools also provided consultations and in-service training sessions to educators who work in general education environments.

Discussion

The study shows that specialized schools continue to provide an essential placement option for some students with visual impairments at some time during their primary and secondary education. The majority of students at specialized schools have additional disabilities, but these schools continue to provide successful academic programs for the students who need them. Furthermore, the study shows that many of the specialized schools are involved in providing direct and indirect services to students being educated in general education environments. The continuum of placement options differs according to state. These differences result in varying degrees of involvement by specialized schools in the general education environment. It is critically important to ensure the continuum in each state affords every visually impaired child an appropriate education, although the location in which educational services are rendered may change with the needs of the student during his or her schooling.
A Longitudinal Study of Reading Development, Academic Achievement, and Support in Swedish Inclusive Education for Students with Blindness or Severe Visual Impairment
Authors: de Verdier Kim , Ek Ulla
Published: December 2018

Introduction

This longitudinal study examined reading development, academic achievement and support in school for six students with blindness or severe visual impairments in inclusive educational settings.

Methods

School grades and results from reading observations and decoding skills tests were collected, and interviews were conducted with students, parents, and teachers.

Results

The results show that the outcome of these students’ schooling varied a great deal regarding both levels of academic achievement and reading development, as well as in the support needed and received. Students with additional disabilities had less positive experiences in school, and the parents of these students were more critical of the support provided by the schools.

Discussion

Important aspects of the outcomes concerned the attitudes held by school management and teachers and the competence of teachers. In some cases, teachers lacked sufficient knowledge about braille and teaching methods for students with visual impairments.

Implications for practitioners

The findings imply that the support system for students with visual impairments in Sweden needs to be more systematized in order to secure equal educational opportunities for all students.
Including Students who Are Visually Impaired in the Classroom: Attitudes of Preservice Teachers
Authors: Ajuwon Paul M. , Sarraj Huda , Griffin-Shirley Nora , Lechtenberger DeAnn , Zhou Li
Published: December 2018

Introduction

This study examines the perceptions of preservice teachers concerning the inclusion of students with blindness or low vision (visual impairments) in their classrooms.

Methods

Using a modified version of the Preservice Inclusion Scale (PSIS), data were collected from participants in three universities in the United States before and after the completion of an introductory special education course. A Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) test was conducted to investigate the change in participants’ attitudes toward inclusion.

Results

The anxiety measure revealed an increase in the calmness level of preservice teachers, and the receptivity measure revealed a nonsignificant change in their receptivity level toward inclusion.

Discussion

There were three main study outcomes: A between-subject effect of the universities was not evident, no significant changes in hostility or receptivity were found, and the confidence of preservice teachers in teaching students with visual impairments was not a predictor of changes in attitudes toward inclusion.

Suggestions for future research

Future research should determine the nature and scope of strategies included in coursework, and whether these strategies relate more to improvements in attitudes than to coursework that does not include them.
Transportation Issues: Perspectives of Orientation and Mobility Providers
Authors: Crudden Adele
Published: December 2018

Introduction

This is an exploratory study of orientation and mobility (O&M) providers’ perceptions of transportation issues for persons who are blind or have low vision. Transportation challenges, particularly regarding employment, are examined, the role of O&M providers are explored, and strategies to address these barriers are suggested.

Methods

Six O&M providers volunteered to participate in a focus group conducted at a national conference. Transcripts of their remarks were coded and themes associated with the research questions were identified and reported.

Results

Limitations of public transportation and the cost of transportation were viewed as major barriers to accessing transportation, particularly regarding employment, but safety issues and stress associated with transportation were also concerns. Involvement of O&M providers in securing transportation varied; most were not directly involved in the process. Most visually impaired persons received instruction in the use of fixed-route transportation systems during O&M instruction regardless of availability.

Discussion

Living in areas with accessible public transportation, self-advocacy, and using bioptics to drive should be explored as they may be helpful in overcoming transportation barriers. People who are visually impaired are not routinely engaged in dialogue with O&M providers about the strategies needed to identify and negotiate the transportation options available to them.

Implications for practitioners

Engaging visually impaired people in discussions that focus on problem-solving skills, such as how to negotiate rides or find a driver, may be helpful to them in overcoming transportation barriers. Further research to determine who should be responsible for facilitating these conversations is warranted, as well as research regarding drivers’ attitudes about liability and the impact of bioptics on rehabilitation outcomes. Vision rehabilitation counselors may need training about how to screen consumers for referral for potential use of bioptics to enable driving.
The Experience of a Randomized Clinical Trial of Closed-Circuit Television versus Eccentric Viewing Training for People with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Leat Susan J. , Si Francie Fengqin , Gold Deborah , Pickering Dawn , Gordon Keith , Hodge William
Published: December 2018

Introduction

In addition to optical devices, closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and eccentric viewing training are both recognized interventions to improve reading performance in individuals with vision loss secondary to age-related macular degeneration. Both are relatively expensive, however, either in the cost of the device or in the amount of time personnel need to provide training. In this randomized trial, we compared the effectiveness of these two interventions.

Methods

Participants with age-related macular degeneration and visual acuity between 6/48 (20/160) and 6/120 (20/400) first received basic low vision care, including optical devices. At the subsequent baseline visit, they undertook a battery of measures including logMAR visual acuity; reading speed and accuracy for text in 1.3M and 1M fonts; reading information on medicine bottles, utility bills, and food packages; the NEI-VFQ; the Geriatric Depression Scale; and a reading inventory questionnaire. They were then randomized to either obtaining a CCTV for home use or eccentric viewing training over the following six weeks.

Results

Recruitment was more difficult than expected for this population. Of 145 patients referred, 29 met the inclusion-exclusion criteria, 14 were willing to enroll, and 10 completed the trial. For the primary outcome (reading speed for 1.3M print), there was a significant improvement between baseline and outcome for the CCTV group (p = 0.005), but not for the eccentric viewing training group (p = 0.28), and the CCTV group showed significantly greater change (p = 0.04). There was a nonsignificant improvement in reading speed for 1M text and a decrease in the amount of time taken to read utility bill information in the CCTV group. There was a significant improvement in near visual acuity with current glasses with eccentric viewing training. The other measures did not reach statistical significance.

Discussion

Randomized clinical trials for low vision rehabilitation, particularly in the elderly population with vision loss, are challenging, but such trials are important for the allocation of resources. This trial showed early indications of more impact on reading performance from CCTV than eccentric viewing training.
The Effect of the Usage of Computer-Based Assistive Devices on the Functioning and Quality of Life of Individuals who are Blind or have low Vision
Authors: Rosner Yotam , Perlman Amotz
Published: December 2018

Introduction

The Israel Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services subsidizes computer-based assistive devices for individuals with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision) to assist these individuals in their interactions with computers and thus to enhance their independence and quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of computer usage on the quality of life of computer-based assistive device users, and to evaluate their capacity to carry out computer-based tasks.

Methods

The study was conducted between the years 2013 and 2015. Questionnaires were provided to 96 randomly sampled individuals with visual impairments. These questionnaires were designed to collect information about the quality of life, types and frequency of computer use, satisfaction with the assistive devices, and the effects of computer-based assistive device usage on the participants’ lives. In addition, the study evaluated participants’ performance in tasks such as e-mail use, Internet surfing, and the use of Microsoft Word; participants performed these tasks on their personal computers. The research sample accounts for about 10% of visually impaired persons in Israel.

Results

Findings suggest that participants use computer-based assistive devices frequently (four hours a day on average), primarily for leisure (three hours on average). Participants also report high satisfaction with their devices (mean of 3.98 out of the maximum score of 5.00) and indicate that the devices have improved their quality of life (mean 3.67 out of 5.00) and leisure activities (mean 3.68 out of 5.00). Participants display high levels of task performance, especially in the use of Microsoft Word software (mean of 3.47 out of 5.00), and e-mail usage (mean of 3.81 out of 5.00).

Discussion

The findings suggest that most participants use computer-based assistive devices daily and report a positive influence from them on their quality of life and activity.

Implications for practitioners

The study suggests that welfare services and assistance organizations would benefit from subsidizing computer assistive devices for individuals with visual impairments.
Using Description to Convey Mathematics Content in Visual Images to Students who Are Visually Impaired
Authors: Emerson Robert Wall , Anderson Dawn L.
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Because of the preponderance of visual images, many mathematics texts are wholly or largely inaccessible to students who are blind. This study investigated how much description is sufficient to communicate math content in different types of images.

Methods

Representative math textbooks from grades five, eight, and 11, aligned to the Common Core, were selected. Mutually exclusive and exhaustive image categories were identified. Clear examples of each image category were chosen, and digital files were created containing the examples and surrounding textual material. Files replicated the printed page as closely as possible, and all elements (words, math expressions, and descriptions of images) were readable by JAWS. Forty-four students who are visually impaired (that is, those who are blind or had low vision) listened to the math pages and answered questions related to the content contained in the images.

Results

Students answered content-related questions better with more description, but across four description conditions with varying amounts of description the highest correct rate was low (29%). In looking at individual image categories, students had the most correct answers for number lines (41.0%). Rates of 20% to 33% correct were demonstrated for image categories of shapes, tables, line graphs, bar graphs, and ray diagrams. Correct rates for equations, pie charts, and maps were inconsistent or lower than 15%. Students were positive about math and did not indicate many problems with math texts.

Discussion

Descriptions of visual images can communicate important math information, but there are images for which no level of description is sufficient. Many students in the study were not aware of how much visual math content to which they were not provided access.

Implications for practitioners

Math texts need to be more accessible for students who are visually impaired. Although describing visual images can improve access to content, that may not be sufficient. Materials should be provided in several formats simultaneously so students can approach material in the mode that fits their needs in a variety of contexts.
Reference Guide for Integrating Continuous Glucose Monitoring Into Clinical Practice
Authors: Kruger Davida F. , Edelman Steve V. , Hinnen Deborah A. , Parkin Christopher G.
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Large randomized trials have demonstrated the efficacy of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in persons with type 1 diabetes and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this article is to provide basic knowledge about CGM technology, discuss the use of CGM data in clinical practice, and direct clinicians to online resources that provide comprehensive information and tools relevant to patient selection, education/training, and reimbursement.

Conclusions

Effective use of CGM requires all members of the health care team to become knowledgeable and skilled in integrating CGM into their practices and in teaching their patients how to safely incorporate CGM use into their daily diabetes self-management.
Psychometric Validation of the Korean Version of the 9-Item European Heart Failure Self-Care Behaviour Scale
Authors: Son Youn-Jung , Won Mi Hwa
Published: December 2018

Heart failure (HF) is the most common cause of frequent hospitalizations and high mortality. Active engagement in self-care behaviors is an essential component of HF disease management. Although the 9-item European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale (EHFScBS-9) as a commonly used instrument has been validated in different languages, there is no validated tool for addressing self-care behaviors related to HF in Korea. This study aimed to validate the Korean version of the EHFScBS-9. A cross-sectional study was adopted. The EHFSeBS-9 was translated and back-translated into Korean. A convenience sample of 270 patients from an outpatient clinic participated. Reliability was assessed via an internal consistency analysis. Construct validity was tested with exploratory factor and confirmatory factor analysis. Criterion validity was assessed by measuring participants’ health literacy and general health status. Internal consistency was supported based on a Cronbach’s α of .84. We identified three well-fitting factors (consulting behaviors, fluid restriction, and adherence behaviors), which explained 71.85% of the variance in self-care. More self-care behaviors were associated with adequate health literacy and good general health status. The Korean version of the EHFSeBS-9 showed sufficient internal consistency and acceptable validity to support its usage among Korean HF patients.
The Mobilizing Effects of Economic Threats and Resources on the Formation of Local Occupy Wall Street Protest Groups in 2011
Authors: Gillham Patrick F. , Lindstedt Nathan C. , Edwards Bob , Johnson Erik W.
Published: December 2018

This paper examines how threatening economic conditions and preexisting community resources facilitated the spread of Occupy Wall Street protest groups to more than 600 counties in the continental United States in 2011. Using a generalized linear mixed model, we find that economic threats and accessible resources are complementary facilitators of movement mobilization. But contrary to the expectations based on earlier media and scholarly accounts, the “disruptive threats” caused by the Great Recession failed to predict the formation of Occupy groups. Instead, groups were more likely to mobilize in counties that had the “positional threats” of relatively higher income inequality and relatively lower median incomes in comparison to state norms. However, the effect of positional economic threats was nuanced as counties with lower than average unemployment more likely had groups mobilized. In addition, resources continue to demonstrate empirical importance in explanations of social movement mobilization, as Occupy groups were more likely to form in counties with greater access to social-organizational and human resources. Combined, these findings suggest that scholars can strengthen their analyses by considering threats and resources as complementary facilitators of local protest mobilization and by focusing greater attention on how differing types of threats may influence the mobilization of social movements.