bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preventive Service Utilization among People who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
Authors: Bennett Kevin J. , McDermott Suzanne , Mann Joshua R. , Hardin James W.
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Visual impairment (that is, blindness or low vision) is a condition that has substantial implications for independent living and is associated with poorer health, mental health issues, and reduced access to health care service. The purpose of this research was to determine the prevalence of visual impairments and the association between visual impairment status and receipt of United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF, 2014) recommended services among U.S. adults.

Methods

Pooled data from the 2000–2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2014) were used to estimate nationally representative visual impairment prevalence and receipt of USPSTF services (mammography, Pap test, colorectal cancer screening, influenza vaccinations, and cholesterol tests) among adults with and without visual impairments. Eligibility for services was based upon gender, age, and year in which the service was received, according to USPSTF recommendations. Descriptive statistics and adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Covariates included demographic characteristics and health-related variables.

Results

Controlling for other factors, those with visual impairments were less likely to have colorectal cancer screenings (AOR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.49–0.90) or cholesterol tests (AOR: 0.69, 95% CI:0.50–0.96), more likely to have influenza vaccinations (AOR: 1.33, 95% CI:1.06–1.67); and equally likely to have mammogram or Pap tests compared with those without visual impairments.

Discussion

The findings suggest that adults with visual impairments, compared with those without, are less likely to receive USPSTF recommended screenings for cholesterol and colorectal cancer. Additional research is needed to ascertain the reasons behind these differences.

Limitations

This analysis is limited by sample selection, a conservative condition identification process, and the small sample sizes available in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data.

Implications for practitioners

Practitioners should be aware of the particular needs of patients with multiple chronic conditions; when serving these patients, care needs to be taken to not let their primary condition overshadow the need for other preventive services.
Socialization and Self-Determination in Different-Age Dyads of Students who Are Deafblind
Authors: Bruce Susan M. , Zatta Mary C. , Gavin Mary , Stelzer Sharon
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Deafblindness limits access to social cues and social feedback, thus restricting the development of social skills. Many children with CHARGE syndrome, a leading cause of deafblindness, experience challenges with emotional self-regulation and anxiety that may interfere with socialization. Learning about self-determination skills such as goal setting, problem solving, and choice making, in the context of socialization instruction, may improve emotional regulation and social skills.

Methods

This collaborative action research study employed grounded theory design, with ongoing data analysis. The primary research question was: How will interactions between adolescent students with CHARGE syndrome and younger students with mixed etiologies of deafblindness change over time, in the context of an arranged interaction space? Data sources were videotaped observations of interaction and feedback sessions, evaluation forms, and field notes. Independent qualitative analysis by two raters and member checks enhanced the trustworthiness of findings.

Results

The younger students learned to make toy choices when presented with them by the adolescent students. Joint attention challenges occurred, as adolescent students did not understand their pals’ visual latency and play skills. The adolescent students learned to interact more effectively with younger students while rehearsing self-determination skills such as goal setting and problem solving.

Discussion

Adult support was essential to successful interactions and to adolescent students’ engagement in self-reflection and self-evaluation during the feedback sessions. More research is needed on socialization and self-determination instruction of children who are deafblind, including those with CHARGE syndrome.

Implications for practitioners

Children who are deafblind require direct instruction for social skills and opportunities to practice interactions with differently aged children. They also require opportunities to problem solve in the context of socialization opportunities. Support from familiar adults may reduce the anxiety experienced during socialization.
The Effect of Career Mentoring on Employment Outcomes for College Students who Are Legally Blind
Authors: O'Mally Jamie , Antonelli Karla
Published: December 2018

Introduction

College graduates with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision) often face challenges in securing competitive employment after graduation. Working with a mentor who is also visually impaired, and working in the same field, can provide important benefits to overcome these barriers.

Methods

A nationwide longitudinal study, involving random assignment to an intervention group working with a mentor or a comparison group given traditional career resources, evaluated changes in job-seeking self-efficacy, assertiveness in job hunting, and career adaptability over the course of one year as legally blind college students prepared to graduate and enter the job market. Employment outcomes, job satisfaction, and evaluation of the mentoring program were also measured.

Results

Those working with mentors demonstrated increased job-seeking self-efficacy, career adaptability, and significant gains in assertiveness in job-hunting compared to those receiving only traditional job-search resources. Although no significant differences were found between groups for employment rate or job satisfaction, participants reported high satisfaction with the program.

Discussion

Working with a mentor demonstrated positive trends for self-efficacy, career adaptability, and significant increases in job-hunting assertiveness among visually impaired college students with legal blindness. Participants were highly committed and found the program beneficial. Small sample size may have limited the ability to detect significant differences in employment outcomes.
Fitness Wearables and Youths with Visual Impairments: Implications for Practice and Application
Authors: Colgan Joanna C. , Bopp Melissa J. , Starkoff Brooke E. , Lieberman Lauren J.
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Individuals with visual impairments are at risk for chronic health-related illnesses attributed to low physical activity and low fitness levels. This study aimed to determine device preference of three physical activity–monitoring wearables for youths with visual impairments, taking into account gender and visual impairment level, and to discern beneficial and impeding device components and suggested device changes.

Methods

For this cross-sectional and descriptive study, a convenience sample of 25 youths and young adult volunteers (16 males, 9 females, aged 9–22, M = 13.80, SD = 3.27) were recruited from a week-long sports camp for youths with visual impairments. Participants were assigned to wear all three wearables at once. Data was collected through demographic questionnaires and evening focus groups and was analyzed using qualitative coding software to determine beneficial and impeding aspects and suggested device changes.

Results

Responses varied by level of visual impairment, such as with auditory and visual contrast components, and varied slightly by gender, such as with aesthetic components. All responses for beneficial and impeding components and suggested changes fell into coded themes of access to data, comfort, display, data measured, auditory, waterproof, aesthetics, goal-setting, and music.

Discussion

Beneficial and impeding components helped participants suggest changes to make devices more usable, accessible, easy and enjoyable to wear, and motivating for this population. Limitations include the short device usage time for each participant, financial constraints, and the number of participants who consented.

Implications for practitioners

Physical activity technology can be developed that is more usable by more members of the general population and that allows more individuals to meet daily and weekly physical activity recommendations and health goals. In terms of reducing health disparities, this technology can mass-target physical activity levels in individuals with visual impairments as part of low-cost health and physical activity promotion interventions and could increase the overall quality of life of at-risk individuals.
Targeted Vision Function Goals and Use of Vision Resources in Ophthalmology Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Comorbid Depressive Symptoms
Authors: Casten Robin , Rovner Barry W. , Fontenot Joseph L.
Published: December 2018

Introduction

This study characterizes self-reported functional vision goals and the use of low vision resources (for example, services and devices) in ophthalmology clinic patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and comorbid depressive symptoms.

Methods

From July 2009 to February 2013, we assessed 188 consecutive patients (age 65 +; mean 84.0 years; 70.2% female) with AMD (best corrected distance acuity 20/70 or worse) enrolled in a 12-month randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of a multi-component intervention that combined low vision optometry and home-based occupational therapy to prevent depression (Low Vision Depression Prevention Trial [VITAL]). A geriatric nurse conducted in-home assessments to measure visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, self-reported functional vision, functional vision goals that were personally important yet difficult to achieve (targeted vision function goals), and the use of low vision resources (defined as services, devices and strategies utilized by low vision patients to compensate for visual deficits). This study reports on baseline data collected prior to randomization.

Results

Only 9.6% of the sample had received formal low vision services. The five most common goals were newspaper reading, leisure and entertainment, computer use, personal communication, and correspondence. Participants engaged in targeted vision function goals less frequently since being diagnosed with AMD, despite using low vision resources and reporting low to moderate difficulty in using them.

Discussion

Few patients with AMD seen in ophthalmology clinics received low vision rehabilitation. Patients who utilized resources engaged in goals less frequently since being diagnosed with AMD.

Implications for practitioners

Patients with AMD are underutilizing low vision rehabilitation resources. Strategies for increasing low vision referrals are suggested.
Disoriented and Immobile: The Experiences of People with Visual Impairments during and after the Christchurch, New Zealand, 2010 and 2011 Earthquakes
Authors: Good Gretchen A. , Phibbs Suzanne , Williamson Kerry
Published: December 2018

Introduction

On September 4, 2010, at 4.35 a.m., a shallow 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the South Island of New Zealand, followed by a deadly 6.3 magnitude aftershock on February 22, 2011, centered under the city of Christchurch, which killed 185 people. This research explores the experiences of 12 visually impaired Christchurch residents who lived through more than 12,000 aftershocks throughout 2010 and 2011. The participants shared suggestions about how to be better prepared for such an emergency.

Methods

Qualitative research involved 12 face-to-face semi-structured interviews conducted in 2011 prior to the fatal February earthquake. In February 2012, seven of the original participants were reinterviewed about how more than a year of earthquakes had affected their lives.

Results

Participants highlighted the importance of communication and technology, personal and agency support, orientation and mobility, health, rebuilding independence, rehabilitation, coping, and resilience.

Discussion

Participants demonstrated creative problem-solving abilities, resilience, and community spirit. Findings also indicate that older visually impaired persons are vulnerable in disasters, and that more work needs to be done to prepare communities, agencies, families, and individuals for potential disasters.

Implications for practitioners

Participants provided suggestions for disaster preparedness for people who have impairments and for the agencies that provide services to people with disabilities.
A Customized Transportation Intervention for Persons with Visual Impairments
Authors: Crudden Adele , Antonelli Karla , O'Mally Jamie
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Transportation can be an employment barrier for persons with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. A customized transportation intervention for people with visual impairments, based on concepts associated with customized employment, was devised, implemented, and evaluated.

Methods

A pretest and posttest intervention and comparison group design evaluated changes in participants’ social problem-solving skills, transportation self-efficacy, and transportation knowledge. Participants worked with a transportation coordinator to plan and secure work-related transportation. Surveys assessed participant satisfaction with the intervention.

Results

The intervention group had significantly higher scores for social problem-solving skills at posttest after considering pretest scores. The intervention group responded favorably to measures of satisfaction with the intervention.

Discussion

The customized transportation intervention had a positive effect on social problem-solving skills and the participants were satisfied with the intervention, although the impact of the intervention on employment outcomes remains unclear. Attrition in the study and lack of a random sample mean the results must be interpreted with caution.

Implications for practitioners

Engaging individuals with visual impairments in discussions about transportation to work may educate them about new options or assist them in thinking of unexplored options. Persons who appear to have good problem-solving skills and confidence in their abilities may still benefit from these discussions.
Development and Standardization of an Alienation Scale for Visually Impaired Students
Authors: Punia Poonam , Berwal Sandeep
Published: December 2018

Introduction

The present study was undertaken to develop a valid and reliable scale for measuring a feeling of alienation in students with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision).

Methods

In this study, a pool of 60 items was generated to develop an Alienation Scale for Visually Impaired Students (AL-VI) based on a review of the literature and discussions with colleagues and experts in the field. The items were organized into six dimensions of alienation, namely powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, social isolation, self-estrangement, and cultural estrangement, and were rated on the five-point Likert scale. The standardization of the scale was completed with 118 students with visual impairments in the age group of 10 to 25 years, selected randomly from specialized and inclusive schools in the state of Haryana, India.

Results

The item analysis was done by calculating t- and r-values; seven items were deleted, and a final 45 items were retained. The calculated value of Cronbach's alpha and split-half correlation came out to be 0.87 and 0.86, respectively. The construct validity was determined by computing the coefficient of correlation between scores of this scale and the scores obtained by using the Student Alienation scale (SAS) of R. R. Sharma (Sharma, 2012). The percentile norm for the scale was determined after verifying normality of the scores by using a Q-Q plot.

Discussion

The findings of the present study suggest that the AL-VI may serve as a useful tool in future research to assess alienation in persons with visual impairments in India. The findings further demonstrate that the AL-VI produced scores that are reliable and valid. The AL-VI can be used outside India after determining its reliability and validity in context-specific conditions.

Implications for practitioners

The AL-VI scale is applicable to students with visual impairments, teachers of students with visual impairments, principals, social workers, psychologists, and rehabilitation professionals. Practitioners could use this tool for assessing and understanding the level of alienation among students with visual impairments, thereby helping them in planning and executing strategies for remediating alienation.
What Mathematical Images Are in a Typical Mathematics Textbook? Implications for Students with Visual Impairments
Authors: Emerson Robert Wall , Anderson Dawn
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Visually impaired students (that is, those who are blind or have low vision) have difficulty accessing curricular material in mathematical textbooks because many mathematics texts have visual images that contain important content information that are not transcribed or described in digital versions of the texts. However, little is known about the extent to which this issue exists within texts and what sort of information is contained in visual material in mathematics texts. This article describes a process undertaken to classify images in a selection of math textbooks that are currently being used in grades 5,8, and 11.

Methods

Representative textbooks were chosen that aligned with Common Core Standards. An exhaustive and mutually exclusive set of image categories was developed, researchers became reliable on coding procedures, and then all images in the representative texts were coded.

Results

The most common images involved student interest, motivation, and organization, but contained little or no math content. The second most common area of image categories often contained large amounts of math content but were difficult to describe succinctly or might have been described without including important mathematical information. This grouping included tables, line graphs, and images specifically related to a single question. The final group of less frequently appearing images included ray or line diagrams, number lines, pie charts, bar graphs, and maps.

Discussion

To improve access to visual math content, the focus should be on images that appear frequently and contain math content such as tables, scatter or line graphs, shapes, equations, and images specifically related to a single question. Less common image categories such as models, line diagrams, pictures of calculator keys, and number lines lend themselves easily to description.

Implications for practitioners

Optimization of limited instructional time would be accomplished by having teachers focus on students’ understanding of the most common types of images, such as tables and line graphs.
Development of a Mobility-Related Quality-of-Life Measure for Individuals with Vision Impairments
Authors: Lethbridge Emma Marie , Muldoon Chris
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Scientifically valid measures of functional vision and quality of life, designed to explore individuals’ experiences of vision impairment (that is, blindness and low vision) are widely available; however, there is a paucity of measures specifically considering the quality of life afforded by an individual's mobility. The aim of this research was to develop a mobility-related quality-of-life measure.

Methods

An 11-item measure was developed by adapting the Seeing It My Way (Vision Strategy UK, 2011) theoretical framework of outcomes for measuring quality of life when living with vision impairments to explore the effect of mobility. These items are on a seven-point Likert scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree to form the Mobility-Related Quality-of-Life measure (MRQoL).

Results

Data from 688 participants revealed that the MRQoL had appropriate reliability, with the items on the scale being highly related and demonstrating sufficient internal consistency. When tested over time without significant intervention, the MRQoL was observed to be stable, with high test-retest reliability. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two distinct sub-factors: factor one, representing a construct containing aspects of independent mobility; and factor two, comprised of the skills and knowledge that enhance mobility. Together, the constructs accounted for 52.2% of the variability within in the data.

Discussion

The MRQoL is evidentiarily reliable and has a useful two-factor structure exploring both independent mobility and mobility-enhancing skills and knowledge.

Implications for practitioners

The MRQoL is a practical, sensitive, and reliable tool for use in assessing mobility-related quality of life in individuals with vision impairments. The measure is appropriate for use within research or in the field to assess the mobility-related quality of life of individuals or demographics with vision impairments, as well as the success of individual training, group mobility training, or other interventions. The MRQoL measure can be used as a stand-alone tool or alongside other measures.
Functional Vision Screening of Older Adults in Nursing Homes: A Study from Galicia (Northwest Spain)
Authors: Sánchez M. Covadonga Vázquez , Prieto Luz M. Gigirey , Del-Oro-Sáez Carlos P. , Piñeiro-Ces Antonio , Crego Manuel Gandoy
Published: December 2018

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to determine the functional vision of a sample of older adults living in nursing homes in Galicia in northwestern Spain. The study is aimed at raising the awareness of clinicians, as well as researchers working in the field of vision and the Spanish Social and Equality Services, regarding the need to develop visual screening protocols in nursing homes, which are currently lacking in Spain (Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, n.d.).

Methods

Presenting visual acuity (visual acuity with current eyeglasses or contact lenses, if worn) was assessed to determine the functional vision of a sample of older adults living in nursing homes. We tested monocular and binocular high-contrast visual acuity using the directional-E screening test (3.70 scale) for distance vision, and the Rosenbaum near vision chart for near acuity. Visual impairment (distance and near vision) was defined as a binocular presenting visual acuity of less than 6/18 (20/63).

Results

The prevalence of visual impairment for distance and near vision reached 23.1% and 16.4%, respectively. We did not find any significant differences in the mean values of presenting visual acuity (far and near vision) between genders. The prevalence of visual impairment for distance vision increased with age (p < 0.01), reaching 25.8% among senior citizens between 80 and 89 years of age, and 50% in the case of nonagenarians. Nevertheless, we did not find any association between age and functional near vision (p > 0.05).

Discussion

The findings confirm the high prevalence of visual impairment among this population group. Many of the residents we examined have a level of vision that affects their typical daily activities and quality of life, so it is urgent to develop standard visual screening protocols in nursing homes.

Implications for practitioners

Developing visual screening programs in nursing homes would allow for the early detection of visual impairment and help other professionals working in nursing homes—especially clinicians, nurses, and caregivers—to optimize the care of the residents.
Evidence that Maternal Age Influences the Occurrence of Optic Nerve Hypoplasia
Authors: Ivy Sarah E. , Hatton Deborah D.
Published: December 2018

Introduction

This study evaluated the influence of maternal age on the presence of optic nerve hypoplasia.

Methods

Logistic regression analysis was used to find the best-fit model to explain the presence of optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH), and to estimate the unique variance accounted for by maternal age, in a sample of 4,269 children with severe visual impairments who entered early intervention programs in the United States between 2004 and 2010.

Results

Maternal age, birth weight of infant, and gestational age were found to be significant predictors of ONH compared to other visual conditions. Maternal age was found to be negatively associated with the probability of having ONH in this sample.

Discussion

Findings are consistent with previous reports of increased incidence of ONH in children born to young mothers (Garcia-Filion, Fink, Geffner, & Borchert, 2010; Tornqvist, Ericsson, & Källén, 2002).

Implications for practitioners

Early interventionists, social workers, and health professionals working with young mothers of children with severe visual impairments should be aware of the dangers and warning signs of associated endocrinopathies, and should encourage at-risk families to discuss this with their pediatrician.
The 1Touch Project: A Pilot Study of a Program to Teach Individuals who Are Visually Impaired Self-Defense
Authors: McCarthy Tessa , Brown Miranda D. , Nicholls Stephen H.
Published: December 2018

Introduction

This pilot study evaluated the percentage of skills participants in the 1Touch Project Coaching Certification Course mastered after intensive training, as well as the maintenance of these skills six months after the initial training session. In addition, the potential psychosocial benefits of the training were evaluated.

Methods

In this posttest-only, pre-experimental study, participants with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision) were trained in skills, and observers assessed the accuracy of participants on each of 76 skills. Participants completed surveys before and after training to indicate self-perceived psychosocial growth as a result of participating in the training.

Results

On average, participants mastered 84.75% of the 76 steps involved in the key skills of the 1Touch program, with a range of mastery from 60.53% to 100.00%. When assessed six months after the initial training, the average level of skill mastery was 89.68%, with a range of 53.95% to 100.00%, indicating there was not a noteworthy decline in the skills that had been mastered just after training. The return rate on the surveys measuring psychosocial benefits was too low to allow accurate statistical analysis, but potentially promising trends were identified based on the increased average response from pretest to posttest.

Discussion

These benefits were achieved after a brief training that could be conducted in virtually any geographic location with relatively few resources.

Implications for practitioners

Providing accessible instruction in self-defense using a program like 1Touch may lead to both physical and psychological benefits.
Influence of Sports Camps and Vision on Perceived Motor Competence in Children and Adolescents who Are Visually Impaired
Authors: Brian Ali , Taunton Sally , Haibach-Beach Pamela , Lieberman Lauren J.
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Children with visual impairments (that is, those who have low vision or blindness) often demonstrate lower levels of perceived and actual motor competence and physical activity compared to peers who are sighted. The purpose of this study was to assess the way in which seven-day sports camps specially designed for children with visual impairments affected perceived motor competence as compared to a control condition.

Methods

Children with visual impairments (N = 79), ages 9 to 19 years (M = 12.71, SD = 2.38) completed either the Self-Perception Profile for Children (ages 9 to 13 years) or the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (ages 14 to 19 years) two to three times at two summer camps or at a school for blind students. Two separate 3 (group) × 4 (vision) ANOVAs assessed pretest and posttest differences for perceived motor competence. A 3 (group) × 2 (time) × 4 (vision) repeated-measures ANOVA examined the effects of camp on perceived motor competence from pretest to posttest. Paired samples t-tests were conducted to reveal if levels of perceived motor competence remained stable from posttest to maintenance.

Results

Camp and control groups revealed nonsignificant and similar levels of perceived motor competence at the pretest. By the end of camp one, children improved their perceived motor competence to a much greater and significant degree than did those in the control condition. Similar effects occurred for those who enrolled at camp two, and those participants also revealed significantly greater gains than did those in the control group. A small subsample maintained their gains six weeks after camp one, while control children also remained stable with no change after six weeks.

Discussion

Children's perceived motor competence can be improved through accessible sports camps. This finding is important, since this measure powerfully associates with physical activity.

Implications for practitioners

Physical education teachers can model camp conditions to benefit perceived motor competence throughout the academic year.
Disproportionately Overrepresented: Women in Local Elected Offices
Authors: Bernick Ethan M. , Heidbreder Brianne
Published: December 2018

This research examines the position of county clerk, where women are numerically disproportionately over-represented. Using data collected from the National Association of Counties and the U.S. Census Bureau, the models estimate the correlation between the county clerk’s sex and county-level demographic, social, and political factors with maximum likelihood logit estimates. This research suggests that while women are better represented in the office of county clerk across the United States, when compared to other elective offices, this representation may be because this office is not seen as attractive to men and its responsibilities fit within the construct of traditional gender norms.
Reducing Local Capacity Bias in Government Grantsmanship
Authors: Sprague Mary , Wilson Kate F. , Cain Bruce E.
Published: December 2018

Local governments with more fiscal and administrative resources are at an advantage for obtaining numerous intergovernmental grants. Although many studies have examined the impact of this local capacity bias on grant getting, there has been minimal research on how grant programs could reduce it. We evaluate the effectiveness of two actions that federal and state grant programs have taken to decrease local capacity bias for economically disadvantaged communities, providing matching fund waivers and preferential scoring. By analyzing grant application, evaluation, and award data for California’s Integrated Regional Water Management Program, we find that matching fund waivers were used by many disadvantaged communities in the grant program. However, awarding extra points to projects that would benefit disadvantaged communities appeared to have no impact on funding decisions due to the extra points being small in number and widely distributed. We discuss how the provisions’ design affects their efficacy and how generalizable the findings are to other grant programs. Overall, our study provides support for having grant programs include matching fund waivers and carefully designed scoring preferences to help reduce local capacity bias in grantsmanship.
99mTcO4-/99mTc-MIBI dual-tracer scintigraphy for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas
Authors: Huang Zhongke , Lou Cen
Published: December 2018

Objective

To investigate the accuracy of dual-tracer scintigraphy for locating parathyroid adenomas in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

Methods

We reviewed 268 patients with PHPT. All patients underwent technetium-99m pertechnetate (99mTcO4-) scintigraphy and technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) dual-tracer scintigraphy of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, respectively. 99mTcO4- planar scintigraphy was carried out initially followed by dual-phase 99mTc-MIBI single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT the next day. The findings were combined and interpreted. Individual 99mTc-MIBI and dual-tracer scintigraphy were both analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were determined in relation to surgical findings. The average interval between scan and surgery was 13 days.

Results

The positive and negative predictive values of 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT were 92.0% and 71.3%, respectively, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 88.3%, 79.2%, and 85.8%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of dual-tracer scintigraphy were 96.3% and 82.3%, respectively, and the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 92.9%, 90.3%, and 92.2%, respectively. Youden’s index for dual-tracer scintigraphy and 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT were 0.83 and 0.63, respectively.

Conclusions

These finding suggest that 99mTcO4- and 99mTc-MIBI dual-tracer scintigraphy is more accurate than other scintigraphy methods for detecting parathyroid adenoma, and may thus be the most suitable imaging technique in patients with PHPT.
Neither/Nor: The rejection of Unionist and Nationalist identities in post-Agreement Northern Ireland
Authors: Hayward Katy , McManus Cathal
Published: December 2018

Since 2006, according to the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, the largest portion of people in Northern Ireland identify themselves not as Unionist nor Nationalist but as Neither. This fact is difficult to tally with the patterns of polarised election results and the narratives of a ‘culture war’ that dominate most analyses of contemporary Northern Ireland. This article examines the existence of this large portion of the population in Northern Ireland who reject the identities upon which the 1998 Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement is centred. We find that those identifying as neither Unionist nor Nationalist are predominantly female, they come from all religious backgrounds, all age groups, and both British and Irish national identities. The majority of those who identify as Neither appear to do so as a statement of rejection of what is on offer from the political parties in Northern Ireland; rather than supporting a centrist party, they support no party at all. The article concludes that the 1998 Agreement has created the conditions for a growing number of people to identify as neither Unionist nor Nationalist, but at the same time it makes the emergence of any strong alternative, ‘third way’ type of politics difficult to envisage.
The Use of Victim Video Statements in Family Violence Cases Increases the Rate of Early Guilty Pleas
Authors: Walton Darren , Brooks Robert , Li Judy
Published: December 2018

A natural experiment is used to determine the effect of victim video statements (VVS) on the rate of early guilty pleas in cases of domestic violence. Participants were part of a trial conducted in 2017-2018 by New Zealand Police, in Counties Manukau District, South Auckland. Cases that met the eligibility criteria but did not result in a VVS formed the control group with written statements taken. Analyses were restricted to cases that proceeded to a court hearing (VVS group: n = 168, control group: n = 108). The key question was whether taking a VVS would increase the rate of early guilty pleas. A logistic regression model controlled two additional factors: (a) being bailed or remanded and (b) the seriousness of charges. VVS cases resulted in 44% early guilty pleas compared with 30% for those with written statements. VVS have a statistically significant increase in the odds of making a guilty plea, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) =1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.02, 3.06], when controlling for the other factors. The results indicate that VVS can be used to reduce demand pressure on the criminal justice system. The findings are considered in terms of the complex relationship between offenders and victims that commonly results in the retraction of written statements.
Legitimizing Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Romantic Love and the Mediating Effect of Patriarchal Ideologies
Authors: Lelaurain Solveig , Fonte David , Giger Jean-Christophe , Guignard Séverin , Lo Monaco Grégory
Published: December 2018

Romantic love in heterosexual relationships is recognized as an important aspect to be considered in relation to the psychosocial mechanisms associated with the persistence of intimate partner violence and the help-seeking barriers faced by female victims. However, few studies have explored the processes underlying the relationship between this form of love and attitudes toward this kind of violence. To do this, the current study aims to analyze the relationship between the adherence to romantic love and the legitimization of intimate partner violence (i.e., perceived severity of violence, victim blame, and exoneration of the perpetrator). It was also to test the mediating effect of patriarchal ideologies (i.e., ambivalent sexism and domestic violence myths) on this relationship. Two hundred thirty-five French adults (51.1% women) were surveyed. The data were analyzed with structural equation models to study the mediations between the variables considered. Consistent with our hypotheses, the results showed that the more the participants adhered to romantic love, the more they blamed the victim and exonerated the perpetrator. They also showed a positive link between romantic love, ambivalent sexism, and domestic violence myths. Finally, the results demonstrated that the relationship between romantic love and the legitimization of violence is mediatized by ambivalent sexism and domestic violence myths. The findings illustrate the need to deconstruct romantic love ideology and the psychosocial logics underlying the legitimization of intimate partner violence.
A Group Concept Inventing of Hiding
Authors: Bunkers Sandra Schmidt , Letcher Deborah , Busman Judy , Damgaard Gloria , Flinn Elizabeth , Knitig Kathy , PetersonLund Robin , Young Linda
Published: December 2018

Parse’s humanbecoming concept inventing model provided a unique method to conduct a group concept inventing of the humanuniverse living experience of hiding. Several insights related to conducting a group concept inventing project are identified along with an ingenuous proclamation for hiding.
Nurses’ Experiences in End-of-Life Care in the PICU: A Qualitative Systematic Review
Authors: Mu Pei-Fan , Tseng Yun-Min , Wang Chia-Chi , Chen Yi-Ju , Huang Shu-He , Hsu Teh-Fu , Florczak Kristine L.
Published: December 2018

The experiences of end-of-life care by nurses in the pediatric intensive care unit are the subject of this systematic review. Six qualitative articles from three different countries were chosen for the review using methods from Joanna Briggs Institute. The themes discovered included the following: insufficient communication, emotional burden, moral distress from medical futility, strengthening resilience, and taking steps toward hospice. These themes are discussed in detail followed by recommendations for practice to assist nurses in their quest for a good death for their pediatric patients.
A Muxerista Politics of Education: Latina Mother Leaders Enacting Educational Leadership and Policy Advocacy
Authors: Oliva Nereida , Alemán Enrique
Published: December 2018

This article presents findings from a qualitative research study conducted with and for Latina mother leaders. Using a muxerista (womanist) framework, we demonstrate how Latina mother leaders articulate forms of leadership to advocate for their children and utilize leadership strategies in the development of educational policy such as playground discipline policy. The process in which Latina mothers create and implement school policy is what we understand as a muxerista politics of education. A muxerista politics of education can help educators and educational policy makers include Latina mother leaders in the school policy decision-making process.
A Review of the Epithelial Cell Rests of Malassez on the Bicentennial of Their Description
Authors: Davis Eric M.
Published: December 2018

The epithelial cell rests of Malassez (ERM) were first described in 1817, yet their significance has remained an enigma for more than 200 years. Given their embryological origins and persistence in adult periodontal tissue, recent research has investigated whether the ERM could be useful as stem cells to regenerate tissues lost as a consequence of periodontitis. The objective of this review is to describe results of studies that have vigorously investigated the functional capabilities of ERM, particularly with regard to periodontal ligament homeostasis and prevention of dentoalveolar ankylosis. The significance of the ERM relative to evolution of the dental attachment apparatus will be examined. The current status of use of ERM as stem cells for dental tissue engineering and in other applications will be reviewed.
A default prior for regression coefficients
Authors: van Zwet Erik
Published: December 2018

When the sample size is not too small, M-estimators of regression coefficients are approximately normal and unbiased. This leads to the familiar frequentist inference in terms of normality-based confidence intervals and p-values. From a Bayesian perspective, use of the (improper) uniform prior yields matching results in the sense that posterior quantiles agree with one-sided confidence bounds. For this, and various other reasons, the uniform prior is often considered objective or non-informative. In spite of this, we argue that the uniform prior is not suitable as a default prior for inference about a regression coefficient in the context of the bio-medical and social sciences. We propose that a more suitable default choice is the normal distribution with mean zero and standard deviation equal to the standard error of the M-estimator. We base this recommendation on two arguments. First, we show that this prior is non-informative for inference about the sign of the regression coefficient. Second, we show that this prior agrees well with a meta-analysis of 50 articles from the MEDLINE database.
War Decision and Neoclassical Realism: The Entry of the Ottoman Empire into the First World War
Authors: Balci Ali , Kardaş Tuncay , Ediz İsmail , Turan Yildirim
Published: December 2018

Why did the fracturing Ottoman Empire enter the Great War? Why did the Ottomans drag their feet for a period of three months although the alliance treaty stipulated that the Ottomans should enter the war against Russia if the latter fought with Germany? This article sets forth a neoclassical realist analysis of the war decision by the members of Ottoman foreign policy executive as the outcome of dynamic interactions between the systemic stimuli/structural modifiers and unit-level variables that occurred in a limited time frame (August to November 1914) and sequentially influenced the strategic calculus of the actors involved. It demonstrates that a changing amalgamation of systemic and unit-level factors were instrumental in the Ottoman decision to enter the Great War, the most prominent of which was the divided foreign policy executive.
Moderating Effect of Situational Factors on Core Self-Evaluation and Performance Relationship
Authors: Bhargava Shivganesh , Pradhan Harsh
Published: December 2018

Personality variables have been widely used to predict job performance. However, according to an interactionist perspective, behaviour is affected by both situation and performance. So we expect personality performance relationship to be moderated by situational factors. In this study, we take core self-evaluation (CSE) as a measure of personality which affects the job performance. The CSE–performance relationship is expected to be moderated by situational factors, conceptualized using situational strength at work (SSW). Furthermore, this interaction of CSE, SSW and performance is expected to be different for age, gender, sector, education and business function (background variables). We undertook a field-based survey ( N = 868) from different companies majorly from three sectors (manufacturing, finance and infrastructure) and functions (business development, operations and support). The results revealed that the CSE–performance relationship was moderated by situational factors. This moderation is dependent on the background variables. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed, and the future course of research is suggested.
Determinants of Remittances: A Study in Cachar District of Assam
Authors: Mazumder Sultana Begum Abida
Published: December 2018

Remittances play an increasingly large role in the economies of many countries. They are more than just mere financial transactions. As studies have shown, in the era of globalization, as a result of the enhanced human mobility, the outmigration of a country’s citizens to various foreign countries has intensified, as a result of which the inward flow of money to the household economy in the urban, semi-urban and the rural areas appears to have increased. The quantum and magnitude of such remittances sent by the migrant workers to their families in the home country are found to be affected by a vast number of characteristics specific to the migrants and their families back home. An attempt has been made through this article to discern the determinants of the remittance levels and the variables that affect the size of the remittance in the surveyed families of the two villages with the help of the multiple regression model.
Analysis of Stock Market Development, Foreign Private Investment and Economic Growth in Nigeria
Authors: Anthony-Orji Onyinye I. , Orji Anthony , Ogbuabor Jonathan E.
Published: December 2018

The study estimated the impact of stock market development and foreign private investment on economic growth in Nigeria over the period of 1985–2016, using secondary data from various publications of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The ordinary least square (OLS) technique was employed in this study, while the Engel and Granger co-integration approach was applied to determine the long-run relationship between the variables. The result showed that market capitalisation, all share index and real exchange rate have statistically significant impact on economic growth, while foreign direct investment, trade openness and gross national savings have insignificant impact on growth. The study also showed that there is a long-run relationship among stock market development, foreign private investment and economic growth in Nigeria. The error correction model (ECM) results showed that the model adjusts to equilibrium in the short run and that about 51 per cent of the disequilibrium between gross domestic product and the independent variables is corrected each year. The study recommended that policymakers and monetary authorities should gear efforts towards formulating policies that will fine-tune stock market performance and reduce issues, such as, unpaid dividends, delay in dividend payments and unhealthy transfer of stocks. This is pertinent to encourage greater population of the citizenry to invest in the stock market. Finally, the study concluded that provision and improvement of infrastructure and power as well as enforcement of investor-friendly policies by the government is needed as these will encourage the establishment of more firms and industries that will participate in the stock market, thereby contributing to the growth of the economy.

JEL Classification: E22, F21, F43, O16