bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Columnar connectome: toward a mathematics of brain function
Authors: Roe Anna Wang
Published: June 2019

Understanding brain networks is important for many fields, including neuroscience, psychology, medicine, and artificial intelligence. To address this fundamental need, there are multiple ongoing connectome projects in the United States, Europe, and Asia producing brain connection maps with resolutions at macro- and microscales. However, still lacking is a mesoscale connectome. This viewpoint (1) explains the need for a mesoscale connectome in the primate brain (the columnar connectome), (2) presents a new method for acquiring such data rapidly on a large scale, and (3) proposes how one might use such data to achieve a mathematics of brain function.
Increasing robustness of pairwise methods for effective connectivity in magnetic resonance imaging by using fractional moment series of BOLD signal distributions
Authors: Bielczyk Natalia Z. , Llera Alberto , Buitelaar Jan K. , Glennon Jeffrey C. , Beckmann Christian F.
Published: June 2019

Estimating causal interactions in the brain from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data remains a challenging task. Multiple studies have demonstrated that all current approaches to determine direction of connectivity perform poorly when applied to synthetic fMRI datasets. Recent advances in this field include methods for pairwise inference, which involve creating a sparse connectome in the first step, and then using a classifier in order to determine the directionality of connection between every pair of nodes in the second step. In this work, we introduce an advance to the second step of this procedure, by building a classifier based on fractional moments of the BOLD distribution combined into cumulants. The classifier is trained on datasets generated under the dynamic causal modeling (DCM) generative model. The directionality is inferred based on statistical dependencies between the two-node time series, for example, by assigning a causal link from time series of low variance to time series of high variance. Our approach outperforms or performs as well as other methods for effective connectivity when applied to the benchmark datasets. Crucially, it is also more resilient to confounding effects such as differential noise level across different areas of the connectome.
Research on Transmissivity and Defect Model of One-Dimensional Photon Crystals for Non-Vertical Incident
Authors: Wang Guangde , Zhang Siqi , Cong Lin , Wang Jing , Wang Lizhong , Guo Yiqing
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we study the transmissivity of one-dimensional photonic crystals (PCs) for different incidence angles, and find that the band gaps become blue shift and the numbers of band gaps increase when the incidence angles increase. We study the position and thickness of defect
layer effect on the transmissivity without absorption coefficient. Then we study the transmissivity characteristic by changing the absorption coefficient k, and find as the absorption coefficient increases, the defect model decreases and these effects characteristic have application
value.
Development of Near-Cloud Turbulence Diagnostics Based on a Convective Gravity Wave Drag Parameterization
Authors: Kim Soo-Hyun , Chun Hye-Yeong , Sharman Robert D. , Trier Stanley B.
Published: June 2019

We propose near-cloud turbulence (NCT) diagnostics for use in aviation turbulence forecasting, using a convective gravity wave drag (CGWD) parameterization scheme. The NCT diagnostics are obtained based on (i) CGWD and (ii) minimum Richardson number including the effects of convective gravity waves (CGWs). The feasibility of the NCT diagnostics is examined using numerical simulation results of real turbulence cases related to the breaking of CGWs, which occurred over eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois in the United States on 9–10 March 2006, and near Fukuoka, Japan, on 2 September 2007. On 9–10 March 2006, several instances of moderate-or-greater (MOG)-intensity turbulence were reported above shallow but active convection over the central United States, while on 2 September 2007, severe turbulence was encountered above dissipating convection near Fukuoka, Japan. The high-resolution simulation results for both turbulence events show that CGWs and their breaking provide favorable environments for turbulence generation. For two simulated real cases, nonzero NCT diagnostics are reasonably well matched with observed turbulence encounters. The global distribution of CGWD calculated using global reanalysis data revealed a high potential of MOG turbulence in the tropics and the midlatitudes, which can be clearly distinguished from the traditional clear-air turbulence index where high potentials of MOG turbulence are diagnosed in the midlatitudes associated with the strong vertical wind shears near jet streams. These results imply that the proposed NCT diagnostics are useful for forecasting turbulence related to the breaking of CGWs, especially, in tropical regions.
Biometric voter registration: A new modality of democracy assistance?
Authors: Jacobsen Katja Lindskov
Published: June 2019

It has been argued that we are witnessing a retreat from democracy promotion in liberal interventionism. Focusing on the roll-out of biometric voter registration (BVR) across Africa, as supported by institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme, this article suggests that rather than a retreat we are seeing the emergence of a new and seemingly lighter approach to liberal democracy promotion. Through an analysis of the use of BVR in Kenyan elections, the article illustrates some key implications of this development. At the local level, the framing of BVR as a ‘solution’ omits important challenges to democratic elections in Kenya. At the global level, the roll-out of BVR reinforces unequal global power structures, for example by constituting an increasing number of African states as laboratories for the trialling of a technology which, due to fears of hacking, has now been rolled back in the US. To make this argument, the article combines insights from recent debates about the state of liberal interventionism, with insights from Michel Foucault and Sheila Jasanoff about the politics of technology.
Adverse political incentives and obstinate behavioural norms: a study of social safety nets in Bangladesh
Authors: Sarker Abu Elias , Nawaz Faraha
Published: June 2019

Despite the relative success of poverty alleviation over the last two decades, the issue of social safety nets remains an intriguing issue in the area of the strategic intervention of the government of Bangladesh. This article aims at exploring two sets of challenges: adverse political incentives and obstinate behavioural norms. In doing so, the current article proposes a conceptual framework that highlights the effects of clientelism, institutional frameworks and their enforcements, and social, human and technological factors on social safety nets. Further, it also shows how social safety nets influence the reduction of poverty, vulnerabilities and risks, leading towards the capacity building and empowerment of vulnerable people. The case of Bangladesh is discussed in the light of the proposed conceptual framework.

Points for practitioners

State decision-makers and implementers may take cognizance of the importance of the participation of pro-poor civic forums at different stages of social safety net intervention, the allocation of adequate resources, and addressing numerous management deficits confronting social safety nets. International development organizations also need to consider the contextual variables while providing assistance to developing countries in general and Bangladesh in particular. Political actors and administrators also need to take into account major contradictions in the formulation and implementation of social safety net programmes in Bangladesh.
The landing is too hard: How social workers perceive institutional support for case management in services for adults with intellectual disabilities in Hong Kong
Authors: Xun Kangwei
Published: June 2019

Institutional support for social work case management in services for adults with intellectual disabilities has attracted limited literature attention globally. This study aims to explore how social workers in services for adults with intellectual disability make sense of institutional support in the domain of case management. Through purposive sampling, 13 social workers employed in this service setting were invited to attend in-depth interviews to share their views on institutional support for case management. Five themes were developed through qualitative data analysis: ‘ A big dinner without a main course’, ‘“ Tip Si” but not explicit’, ‘ Towards inclusion’, ‘ Fulfilling the requirement’ and ‘ Surviving the “ unfair” salary system’. These findings indicate that the current institutional surrounding is not well-suited to the case management practice, and social workers also passively participate in institutional design. Furthermore, this study implies a coordination between institutions and social workers could enhance case management practice in services for adults with intellectual disabilities. The future academic attention could be paid to the more in-depth context of institution–practice relation in case management and how the service environment shapes social workers’ case management practice.
US Perspectives on China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia and the South Caucasus
Authors: Starr S. Frederick
Published: June 2019

To date, the US response to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Central Asia and the Caucasus has been calm, if not tacitly supportive. Two main reasons for this are: (a) the reopening of age-old east–west trade corridors as one of the most important legacies of the collapse of the USSR and (b) it views the engagement of both China and Europe in east–west trade across Central Asia as furthering the Central Asians’ own ability to achieve balanced and positive relations between all the major powers, thereby constraining hegemonic aspirations from any quarter. Further, the United States supports the emergence of Central Asia as a defined world region akin to ASEAN or the Nordic Council and believes that reforms under way in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in the region serve that end as well as increase east–west and west–east trade across the region. Finally, the United States realizes that the ultimate judgement on the viability of BRI in Central Asia and the Caucasus will be that of the market and not geopolitics.
Time is of the essence: The causal effect of duration on support for war
Authors: Sanaei Ali
Published: June 2019

It is often observed that public support for asymmetric wars diminishes over time, but the micro foundations of this observation are not fully understood. I present a modified war of attrition model for asymmetric wars which shows that as time passes, belligerents’ expectations for the remaining duration of war increase and they find fighting less favorable. Even when we keep the average rate of casualty accrual constant, the anticipated length of fighting into the future affects expected remaining costs of war. Therefore, in a cost-benefit calculation, observed duration causally affects expected remaining costs of war and, hence, leads to lower levels of support for war over time. The longer the war lasts, the more it will look like a never-ending war which may encourage the strong side to cut its losses short and stop the war. Because duration and aggregate costs are highly correlated in observational data, I use a randomized survey experiment to separate the effect of duration from the effect of costs on support for war. The result is that duration has a negative effect on public support which is independent of aggregate costs. This helps us better understand the limits of democratic states’ capabilities in fighting asymmetric wars and suggests that when military planners ignore the role of time, they deploy weaker-than-optimal forces.
Housing wealth and household consumption in urban China
Authors: He Zekai , Ye Jingjing , Shi Xiuzhen
Published: June 2019

Using a large Chinese household survey data set, we investigate the effect of home value appreciation on urban household consumption. The paper identifies the causal effect of housing wealth using both Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) estimates and regression discontinuity designs. The research demonstrates that the housing boom in China has resulted in higher consumption and that a 10% increase in home wealth raises overall consumption by approximately 3%. The average marginal propensity to consume out of housing wealth is about 5 cents with substantial heterogeneity across household characteristics. The findings highlight the role of mortgage debts, health insurance, education and risk preference in explaining the variation in household consumption. Our results persist when we adopt different proxies for housing wealth.
A populist grand strategy? Trump and the framing of American decline
Authors: Biegon Rubrick
Published: June 2019

What is the role of ‘populism’ in Donald Trump’s foreign policy? Defining populism as a framing style that constructs antagonisms around ‘the people’ and their adversaries, this article explores Trump’s rhetoric in relation to his efforts to shift US grand strategy away from its traditional investment in the liberal international order. Based on an approach grounded in the ontological commitments of critical discourse analysis, it examines three interlocking frames: (1) the ‘corrupt’ elites of the establishment ‘swamp’; (2) the anti-globalist, ‘America first’ agenda; and (3) poor deal-making responsible for the United States ‘losing’ in international affairs. In responding to declinist themes and anxieties, Trump’s populist rhetoric frames a Jacksonian ideological approach based on nationalism, mercantilism and a reliance on coercive power.
Doing Politics Differently: Middle-Class Youth and Politics in Contemporary Lima
Authors: Winter Franka
Published: June 2019

Two recent studies of the political identities, discourses, utopias, and practices of young middle-class people in contemporary Lima indicate that, contrary to a common narrative of “antipolitics,” they had a critical rather than a negative relationship with politics. While they largely rejected traditional political institutions and identities, they had strong political values and ideals and many ideas for change. They were looking for a different way of doing politics rather than a retreat from it and pursued this through a diverse range of political practices. However, these discourses and practices had certain limitations, in particular with respect to their ability to forge strong alliances and bring about substantial change.

Dos estudios recientes sobre las identidades políticas, discursos, utopías y prácticas de jóvenes de clase media en Lima contemporánea indican que, contrariamente a una narrativa común de “antipolítica”, tenían una relación crítica más que negativa con la política. Si bien rechazaron en gran medida las instituciones e identidades políticas tradicionales, tenían fuertes valores e ideales políticos y muchas ideas para el cambio. Estaban buscando una forma diferente de hacer política en vez de retirarse de ella y la persiguieron a través de una amplia gama de prácticas políticas. Sin embargo, estos discursos y prácticas tenían ciertas limitaciones, en particular con respecto a su capacidad para forjar alianzas sólidas y lograr cambios sustanciales.
The Political Economy of Administrative Burdens: A Theoretical Framework for Analyzing the Organizational Origins of Administrative Burdens
Authors: Peeters Rik
Published: June 2019

Most research on administrative burdens focuses on measuring their impact on citizens’ access to services and benefits. This article fills a theoretical gap and provides a framework for understanding the organizational origins of administrative burden. Based on an extensive literature review, the explanations are organized according to their level of intentionality (deliberate hidden politics or unintended consequences) and their level of formality (designed into formal procedures or caused by informal organizational practices). The analysis suggests that administrative burdens are often firmly rooted in a political economy of deeply engrained structures and behavioral patterns in public administration.
Teachers’ Perceptions of Need for and Competency in Transcribing Braille Materials in the Nemeth Code
Authors: DeMario Norma C. , Lian Ming-Gon John
Published: June 2019

This study reports the results of a survey of teachers of visually impaired students in Illinois and Massachusetts that asked the teachers to rate their perceived competency in transcribing math materials into the Nemeth code and their need to do so. Results indicated a significant difference between mean ratings on competency and need by respondents for 23 of the 55 math skills on the survey.
Using Computers to Teach Remedial Spelling to a Student with Low Vision: A Case Study
Authors: Mioduser David , Lahav Orly , Nachmias Rafi
Published: June 2019

The study reported in this article investigates the use of a diagnostic and remedial adaptive computer tool to help students with low vision decrease their spelling mistakes. The results show the following: a clear change in the student's performance, from phonetic writing to process writing; a gradual evolution to automation in spelling and model word retrieval; and the central role of the computer tools in improving the student's performance.
Temperament-based Learning Styles of Visually Impaired Students
Authors: Oakland Thomas , Banner Diane , Livingston Rita
Published: June 2019

This article reports on a study of the preferences in learning styles for 214 students, aged 10–17, with visual impairments and their sighted peers. Students with or without visual impairments did not differ in their frequency for preferences for either an extroverted or introverted style. However, in contrast to their sighted peers, students with visual impairments more frequently preferred practical, thinking, or organized styles. Also in contrast with their sighted peers, boys with visual impairments tended to prefer extroverted styles and girls with visual impairments tended to prefer introverted styles. Visually impaired students aged 10–15 generally displayed a preference for thinking styles, and those older than 15 preferred feeling styles. Those aged 10–12 generally preferred more organized styles, whereas those older than 15 generally preferred more flexible styles.
Perspectives of Adolescents with Visual Impairments on Social Support from Their Parents
Authors: Chang Sophie Chien-Huey , Schaller James
Published: June 2019

This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of 12 adolescents with visual impairments on the social support they received from their parents. Data were generated from in-depth interviews, field notes, a reflexive journal, informal observations, and time lines of life events. Emerging themes illustrated processes by which participants received emotional, informational, and tangible support. The implications for the training of parents, rehabilitation counselors, and educators are provided.
The Missouri School for the Blind: A Model of Quality for School Improvement
Authors: Howze Yvonne Simmons
Published: June 2019

In their quest for excellence, educators have been using the criteria of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to create systemic change. This article describes the award and how the Missouri School for the Blind has been using it to measure its organizational effectiveness by focusing on the future, managing by fact, and creating innovative solutions to meet the needs of students, families, staff, and other service providers.
Council of Schools for the Blind Learning Outcomes Project
Authors: McMahon Eugene
Published: June 2019

This article describes the Council of Schools for the Blind Learning Outcomes Project, which is developing a data collection infrastructure that will create relevant information based on current knowledge-management principles. The results of the first year of data collection are presented to illustrate the process.
Vocational Outcomes of Sensory Impaired Graduates of an Adult Vocational Training Program
Authors: Beadles Robert J. , McDaniel Randall S. , Waters Stacy
Published: June 2019

This article reports on a study of the vocational status of 80 adults with sensory impairments who graduated from a vocational program during 1994–97. The study found that 48% of the graduates were employed and that 61% of the employed graduates were earning more than the minimum wage.
Measuring Rehabilitation Outcomes for Visually Impaired Persons in New Zealand
Authors: La Grow Steven J.
Published: June 2019

The Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind (RNZFB) is the only provider of specialized services for visually impaired persons in New Zealand. Although it does not use a standardized or formal measure of outcomes, it has a number of ways of measuring the success of its rehabilitation programs. This article describes these measures and new organizational structures to establish formalized methods for measuring rehabilitation outcomes.
Sexual Knowledge of Taiwanese Adolescents with and without Visual Impairments
Authors: Duh Jengjyh
Published: June 2019

A survey of the sexual knowledge of 104 visually impaired and 180 sighted adolescents in Taiwan revealed that the sighted adolescents were better informed than were the visually impaired adolescents and that both groups were least knowledgeable about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the most knowledgeable about anatomy. The sighted adolescents sought information mainly from their peers, and the visually impaired adolescents did so from their teachers.
Sex Education for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults
Authors: Ingraham Cynthia L. , Vernon McCay , Clemente Brenda , Olney Linda
Published: June 2019

This article describes a model sex education program developed for youths and adults who are deaf-blind by the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults. In addition, it also discusses major related issues and presents general recommendations and a resource for further information.
Visual Reading versus Auditory Reading by Sighted Persons and Persons with Low Vision
Authors: Hensil Jennifer , Whittaker Stephen G.
Published: June 2019

A study of two forms of the Auditory Reading Test with 53 elderly participants with normal or low vision and normal or impaired hearing found that mild-to-moderate hearing loss did not reduce the participants’ auditory reading rate as much as was expected. It also found that the participants with low vision read at least as quickly using computer and natural speech as the sighted participants did when reading visually.
“You Don't Have to be Sighted to be a Scientist, Do You?” Issues and Outcomes in Science Education
Authors: Erwin Elizabeth J. , Perkins Tiffany S. , Ayala Jennifer , Fine Michelle , Rubin Ellen
Published: June 2019

This qualitative study explored the issues and outcomes associated with implementing Playtime Is Science for Students with Disabilities, a curriculum and materials that were modified for students who were visually impaired. It found several student-related outcomes, such as persistence, positive peer-related skills, risk taking, and making meaningful connections about the world, and themes regarding implementation of the curriculum, such as teachers’ interest level, issues associated with power, and how teachers supported students’ learning.
Distance Education in 2001
Authors: Huebner Kathleen Mary , Wiener William R.
Published: June 2019

There are significant personnel shortages in education and rehabilitation in the field of blindness and visual impairment. Some university-based programs that prepare teachers, orientation and mobility specialists, rehabilitation teachers and counselors, and low vision specialists to serve individuals with visual impairments strive to increase the number of service providers and assist professionals in maintaining skills and best practices in many ways. This article provides a brief overview of one approach—distance education.
The Evolution of a Distance Delivery System that Supports Content, Students, and Pedagogy
Authors: Ferrell Kay Alicyn , Persichitte Kay A. , Lowell Nathan , Roberts Stephanie
Published: June 2019

This article discusses the design, development, and implementation of a distance-delivered master's degree program leading to licensure as a teacher of students with visual impairments. The evolution of the program, based on improvements in technology, growth in faculty expertise, and students’ enhanced performance, is described.
Connecting Research on Retinitis Pigmentosa to the Practice of Orientation and Mobility
Authors: Geruschat Duane R. , Turano Kathleen A.
Published: June 2019

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) causes restriction of the visual field, progressive vision loss, and night blindness. This article presents an overview of the current management options for O&M and describes the scientific and mobility research on RP that is relevant to the work of O&M instructors.
A Glance at Worldwide Employment of People with Visual Impairments
Authors: Wolffe Karen E. , Spungin Susan J.
Published: June 2019

In 1999, the World Blind Union's (WBU) Committee on Rehabilitation and Employment surveyed WBU member organizations, with the goal of establishing an index of jobs performed by visually impaired adults throughout the world. This article describes the research process, including development of the instrument, and reports the results of the survey.
Biomechanical Movements in Experienced Cane users with and without Visual Impairments
Authors: Wall Robert S. , Ashmead Daniel H.
Published: June 2019

Travelers with visual impairments and orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors were assessed in their performance of the two-point touch cane technique. Both groups deviated similarly from classical stipulations of the technique, having wider arc widths and hand positions off of midline. Measures of body coverage and rhythm were less than ideal. Foot placement preview was linked to several factors. The possibility of focusing more on coverage than on rhythm when assessing cane use is postulated.
What Does the Future Hold? A Follow-up Study of Graduates of a Residential School Program
Authors: Oddo Nancy S. , Sitlington Patricia L.
Published: June 2019

This study investigated the adult adjustment of two cohorts of graduates of a state school for individuals with visual impairments. Areas investigated included employment, living arrangements and finances, postsecondary education, leisure activities, and perceptions of the usefulness of their high school experiences.
The Effects of Assertiveness Training on Enhancing the Social Skills of Adolescents with Visual Impairments
Authors: Kim Young-il
Published: June 2019

This study, of the effects of assertiveness training to enhance the social/assertiveness skills of 26 visually impaired adolescents, found that the adolescents’ social skills were judged differently by parents, the students themselves, teachers, and observers and that the training had some specific effect on increasing the participants’ assertiveness.
Maternal Directives to Young Children who are Blind
Authors: Campbell Julie
Published: June 2019

The results of a detailed analysis of how mothers direct attention and play with their blind and sighted 18-month-old children found that the mothers of the blind children were no more directive than were the mothers of the sighted children, but that they made some use of directives that were particular to the needs of young blind children.
Quality of Life of Visually Impaired Adults who are Employed in Extended-Employment Programs in Israel
Authors: Rimmerman Arie , Morgenstern Hanna
Published: June 2019

This study of the quality of life of 135 visually impaired adults (aged 20–50) who were employed in extended-employment programs in Israel found that overall, the quality of life was associated with the participants’ acceptance of their visual impairments and their years of seniority in the programs.
Haptic Exploratory Strategies and Children who are Blind and Have Additional Disabilities
Authors: McLinden Mike
Published: June 2019

This study of the haptic exploratory strategies used by nine children with visual impairments and additional disabilities when interacting with portable and freely manipulable objects found that a broader approach to assessment and analysis is required than is used with typically developing children. An “adaptive-tasks” approach is proposed as a basis for developing a framework within which to account for sources of variance in the developing haptic abilities of these children.
Performance of the Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire
Authors: Szlyk Janet P. , Stelmack Joan , Massof Robert W. , Stelmack Thomas R. , Demers-Turco Paulette , Williams R. Tracy , Wright Benjamin D.
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument that would be sensitive to the visual difficulties of persons with low vision and that could be used to evaluate outcomes and plan vision rehabilitation services. Toward that end, the Veterans Affairs Low Vision Visual Functioning Questionnaire was administered to 117 participants in rehabilitation programs in Veterans Affairs medical centers and in the private sector. The results demonstrate that the questionnaire is an effective instrument for measuring vision difficulties in persons who receive low-vision rehabilitation.
Effects of Visual Impairment, Gender, and Age on Self-determination
Authors: Robinson Barbara L. , Lieberman Lauren J.
Published: June 2019

This survey of 54 students with visual impairments (aged 8–23 years) who participated in a one-week summer sports camp examined the opportunities they were given for self-determination at home, at school, with friends, for health care, and in physical education classes. The participants at all levels of visual impairment scored low in self-determination across all the domains, which indicates that they were given few opportunities for self-determined behaviors.
Generalization and Maintenance of Social Skills of Children with Visual Impairments: Self-evaluation and the Role of Feedback
Authors: Jindal-Snape Divya
Published: June 2019

A multiple baseline design across behaviors was used with two visually impaired girls to establish the effectiveness of self-evaluation and the role of feedback. In both cases, self-evaluation was effective in increasing the girls’ social skills and social interaction. Implications of the role of significant others in providing feedback are discussed.
The History and Future of Low Vision Services in the United States
Authors: Mogk Lylas , Goodrich Gregory
Published: June 2019

This article discusses the history of low vision services in the United States. The field began to gain momentum as the term low vision was conceptualized and coined, and this momentum is rapidly increasing with changes in the demographics of visual impairment.
Policy to Practice: Teachers’ and Administrators'Views on Curricular Access by Students with Low Vision
Authors: Smith Audrey J. , Geruschat Duane , Huebner Kathleen M.
Published: June 2019

This national study reviews national and state policies and guidelines, as well as surveys and focus groups of administrators and teachers, on the implementation of policies for students with low vision to gain visual access to the general education curriculum. The findings demonstrate that few states provide the necessary services to enable students to achieve access and that people, philosophy, and systems are the main impediments to and the solutions for change.
Visual Attention to Movement and Color in Children with Cortical Visual Impairment
Authors: Cohen-Maitre Stacey Ann , Haerich Paul
Published: June 2019

This study investigated the ability of color and motion to elicit and maintain visual attention in a sample of children with cortical visual impairment (CVI). It found that colorful and moving objects may be used to engage children with CVI, increase their motivation to use their residual vision, and promote visual learning.
Verbalism in the Narrative Language of Children who are Blind and Sighted
Authors: Rosel Jesus , Caballer Antonio , Jara Pilar , Oliver Juan Carlos
Published: June 2019

This study examined the use of verbalisms by 62 children aged 7–14 who were totally blind from birth and 64 sighted children. It found that a child's degree of sight and gender did not affect the frequency with which verbalisms were used; only age had a significant positive effect. The study shows that language is a flexible structure that is used correctly by children who are congenitally blind as they adapt to the language used by those around them.
Social Support and Well-being in Adults who are Visually Impaired
Authors: Cimarolli Verena R. , Boerner Kathrin
Published: June 2019

This study explored multiple aspects of social support and their links to the well-being of working-age adults with visual impairments. Instrumental help from family members was the most frequent type of positive support that was received, and underestimation of the participants’ capabilities was the most frequent type of negative support that was received. Less-optimal well-being appeared to be linked with experiencing a lack of support and with receiving only negative support.
Use of Digital Video to Assess Orientation and Mobility Observational Skills
Authors: Zebehazy Kim T. , Zimmerman George J. , Fox Lynn A.
Published: June 2019

This study compared the observational skills in orientation and mobility (O&M) of nine university students and nine certified O&M specialists using a digital video assessment. The students differed from the O&M specialists in their stylistic observations and the details of their responses. Implications for the improvement of video assessments are discussed.
Development of the Adaptation to Age-related Vision Loss Scale
Authors: Horowitz A. , Reinhardt J.P.
Published: June 2019

This article describes the conceptual and empirical development of a scale to assess psychosocial adaptation to age-related vision loss. Psychometric analyses, conducted on two samples of older people with age-related vision loss, supported the reliability and validity of the scale.
Mobility Options for Visually Impaired Persons with Diabetes: Considerations for Orientation and Mobility Instructors
Authors: Milligan K.
Published: June 2019

This article describes ocular and other complications of diabetes that orientation and mobility instructors should consider in determining the most appropriate mobility training for persons with diabetes who are visually impaired. It compares the benefits of using dog guides and long canes in dealing with these various complications.
Rehabilitation Counselors and Rehabilitation Teachers in State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies
Authors: Lewis S. , Patterson J.B.
Published: June 2019

This article presents a survey of the practices of state rehabilitation agencies regarding rehabilitation teachers and rehabilitation counselors who provide services to adults with visual impairments (who are blind or have low vision). The findings indicated that the majority of the agencies employed these professionals in discrete categories and offered them the same starting salaries. However, the rehabilitation counselors’ caseloads were typically 60 percent higher than the rehabilitation teachers’. Projected openings based on the total positions in each agency revealed slightly more openings for rehabilitation teachers than for rehabilitation counselors.
The Effects on Visually Impaired Children of Viewing Fluorescent Stimuli under Black-Light Conditions
Authors: LaGrow S.J. , Leung J-P , Leung S. , Yeung P.
Published: June 2019

In this study, 30 children with low vision (divided into a high and a low visual acuity group) were presented with stimuli under four conditions (white stimuli-white light, orange stimuli-white light, white stimuli-black light, and orange stimuli-black light) and were asked to rank their preferences for the four conditions. The goal was to determine the effects of the various combinations of stimuli and lighting on the children's visual performance. The orange stimuli viewed under black light resulted in the best performance overall, benefited the low-acuity group more than the high-acuity group, and was the most-preferred condition for both groups.
The Effectiveness of Perceptual Training and Psychosocial Counseling in Adjustment to the Loss of Vision
Authors: Conrod Beverley E. , Overbury Olga
Published: June 2019

This study evaluated the effects of perceptual training and psychological counseling (both individual and group) on adjustment to vision loss in 49 elderly persons with low vision. Overall, the interventions improved the participants’ visual functioning and beliefs about the loss of vision, and follow-up interviews revealed that these improvements were maintained three to six months after the study ended.
Sleep Disturbances among Persons who are Visually Impaired: Survey of Dog Guide Users
Authors: Fouladi Massoud K. , Moseley Merrick J. , Jones Helen S. , Tobin Micheal J.
Published: June 2019

It is claimed that blindness may predispose individuals to disturbed sleep because light is an important mechanism for entraining circadian rhythms. One in five respondents in a survey described the quality of their sleep as either poor or very poor. Exercise was associated with better sleep, and depression with poorer sleep. That visual acuity did not predict the quality of sleep casts doubt on the notion that restricted visual (photic) input is a widespread cause of sleep disturbance among persons who are visually impaired. As with sighted persons, depression appears to be a highly significant risk factor for disturbed sleep in persons who are visually impaired.
Guidelines for Assessing the Need for Adaptive Devices for Visually Impaired Pedestrians at Signalized Intersections
Authors: Gallagher Brian R. , de Oca Patricia Montes
Published: June 2019

This article presents guidelines for orientation and mobility instructors and traffic engineers to assess the need for adaptive devices to make crosswalks at signalized intersections accessible to pedestrians with visual impairments. The discussions of audible and tactile pedestrian devices, along with the case examples, distinguish when each device should be implemented to resolve specific problems.
Geriatric Low Vision Referrals by Ophthalmologists in a Senior Health Center
Authors: Pankow Laura , Luchins Daniel
Published: June 2019

A review of the records of 307 ophthalmology patients at a senior health center found that of the 47 patients who were deemed appropriate for referral to the low vision clinic, only 13 were actually referred. This finding indicates that ophthalmologists, as well as other physicians, were underutilizing the low vision services that are available to their patients at the center. This article describes the study and discusses the criteria to consider in referring geriatric patients for visual rehabilitation services.
Personal-Space Preference among Male Elementary and High School Students with and without Visual Impairments
Authors: Eaton Susan B. , Fuchs Lynn S. , Snook-Hill Mary-Maureen
Published: June 2019

This study compared three types of personal-space preference (PSP)— Initial PSP, Approach PSP, and Stop-Distance PSP—of male elementary and high school students in talking with an adult female conversation partner in a natural conversation setting. The boys were divided into three groups: boys with severe visual impairments, sighted boys who were blindfolded, and sighted boys with no visual restrictions. The visually impaired boys and the sighted, blindfolded boys chose smaller Initial PSPs, but on Approach PSP and Stop-Distance PSP, all three groups performed comparably.
The Effectiveness of Two Programs to Develop Visual Perception in Spanish Schoolchildren with Low Vision
Authors: López-Justicia Maria D. , Martos Francisco J.
Published: June 2019

This study compared improvements in the visual function of a group of 20 Spanish children with low vision, aged 4 to 6 years. The children were divided into four groups: Barraga and Morris program, Frostig program, placebo control, and untreated control. Since all the children showed significant improvements, regardless of the treatment or control procedure used, the authors concluded that the treatment programs were not effective, at least with the children they studied. The increases in visual efficiency and acuity probably reflected the normal effects of maturation, schooling, or both, in these children.
Survey of Dual-Certified Orientation and Mobility Instructors
Authors: Griffin-Shirley Nora , McGregor Duncan , Jacobson William H.
Published: June 2019

Over 250 orientation and mobility (O&M) instructors who are also teachers of children with visual impairments were surveyed to determine their roles and responsibilities, satisfaction with their university training, and current jobs. The majority of the respondents were middle-aged, Caucasian women with master's degrees who were satisfied with their training and jobs. The respondents spent the largest proportion of their workweeks performing the duties of teachers of children with visual impairments and fewer hours teaching O&M techniques in public schools.
In the Community of a Classroom: Inclusive Education of a Student with Deaf-Blindness
Authors: Sall Nancy , Mar Harvey H.
Published: June 2019

This case study describes the inclusive education program of a student with deaf-blindness on the basis of extensive classroom observations and interviews with parents, teachers, administrators, and peers. Critical factors associated with the program's success included direct administrative involvement, teachers’ and peers’ problem-solving skills, adaptation of materials and school activities, effective teaming, consideration of the physical environment, and adoption of attitudes that support inclusion.
Providing Culturally Competent Services to Visually Impaired Persons
Authors: Bau Angela M.
Published: June 2019

Providing culturally competent services to visually impaired persons requires an understanding of the influence of culture on effective assessments and plans of action. This article examines seven cultural values: communication, health beliefs and practices, family structure, attitude toward authority, etiquette, expectations of “helping,” and time orientation. It provides suggestions for meeting cross-cultural challenges through skills similar to those used in the disability field.
Cultural Transition: A Lesson from one Ethiopian Child who is Blind
Authors: Rote Evie Weil
Published: June 2019

Through the experiences and development of a young, congenitally blind Ethiopian boy, this article shows some of the cultural differences between Ethiopians and Israelis, the complexity of cultural transition, and the importance of respecting different childrearing practices and values.
Perspectives on Visual Impairment: An Asian American Woman Shares Her Story
Authors: Love Carol
Published: June 2019

Excerpts from an interview with an Asian American woman about her views on aspects of her life illustrate key issues related to the cultural implications of having a visual impairment. Suggestions for professionals who work with Asian American or Pacific Islander clients are also presented.
Barriers to Employment: A Survey of Employed Persons who are Visually Impaired
Authors: Crudden Adele , McBroom Lynn W.
Published: June 2019

A national mail survey of 176 employed persons who are blind or have low vision found that employment barriers included attitudes of employers and the general public; transportation problems; and lack of access to print, adaptive equipment, and accommodations. Strategies to overcome barriers appear to be addressed on an individual basis, rather than from a macro or policy perspective.
Adaptation Strategies, Weil-Being, and Activities of Daily Living among People with Low Vision
Authors: Lindö Gunnel , Nordholm Lena
Published: June 2019

This study compared the positive and negative adaptation strategies used by people with low vision (25 working-age and 23 elderly people) who had participated in a rehabilitation program with two comparison groups: 335 persons with neurological disabilities and an age- and sex-matched population of 112 nondisabled persons. It also investigated relationships among adaptation strategies, psychological well-being, and self-assessed difficulties with activities of daily living.
The Effects of Training on a Young Child with Cortical Visual Impairment: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Lueck Amanda Hall , Dornbusch Helen , Hart Jeri
Published: June 2019

This exploratory study investigated the effects of the components of visual environmental management, visual skills training, and visually dependent task training on the performance of visual behaviors of a young child with cortical visual impairment. These components were implemented by the mother during daily routines.
Loneliness in adolescence: Confirmatory factor analysis of the relational provisions loneliness questionnaire (RPLQ) in a Portuguese sample
Authors: Ribeiro Olívia , Santos António J. , Freitas Miguel , Rosado António , Rubin Kenneth H.
Published: June 2019

The present study assesses the factor structure, psychometric adequacy, and invariance across sex and age of the Relational Provisions Loneliness Questionnaire (RPLQ). Discriminant validity with an external criterion was also tested. In a sample of Portuguese adolescents, from 7th to 9th grade ( N = 817), Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) were conducted to test a four-factor model of loneliness (lack of integration and/or intimacy in peer group and/or family). Results evidenced empirical support for the structure of the RPLQ loneliness scale, which fitted very well the proposed model, and provided adequate fit to the Portuguese data. There was substantial support for the construct validity (factorial, convergent, and discriminant) and reliability of the RPLQ. Measurement invariance (configural, metric, and scalar) was established across sex and age. Finally, it was assured discriminant validity, provided by the contrast with the social functioning dimensions in peer group. Overall, our findings support the conceptualization of loneliness in adolescence by peer- and family-related loneliness through lack of integration and intimacy. In a single instrument, the RPLQ loneliness scale combines measures of four important aspects of adolescents’ social life. This seems to be an adequate instrument to be used in the study of adolescents’ loneliness, in its different forms and across relational contexts.