bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors that Influence Assistive Technology Decision Making
Authors: Lahm Elizabeth A. , Sizemore Leslie
Published: January 2017

With technological advances and growth in availability of assistive technology, infants and toddlers with disabilities have many more options than they had previously. Professionals that serve this population are required by law to consider assistive technology for each child with a disability that they serve. This study examines the factors that impact the decisions made about assistive technology by the professionals that serve them through the Kentucky First Steps Program. Fifteen of 16 professionals approved to provide assistive technology services in Kentucky were interviewed. An analysis of the differences in experience, philosophy, and beliefs of the participants by discipline provide insight into the process of decision making and the implications they have on the implementation of assistive technology. The analysis revealed several contradictions. While appearing to be philosophically aligned, the participants delivered assistive technology services in many different ways. Teaming was espoused as an important component of service delivery but was frequently not implemented. Family members were not seen as important members of these teams but client goals were rated as extremely important factors in making decisions about assistive technology. Parents and professionals need to be aware of the differences between disciplines and delivery strategies to assure a complete and balanced look at the whole child.
The Comprehensive Evaluation of a Self-Instructional Program on Functional Behavioral Assessment
Authors: Liaupsin Carl J.
Published: January 2017

Computer assisted instruction has been used to teach a variety of skills to persons who work with school-age children. However, with few exceptions, the computer-based instructional materials that have been developed to provide training for school professionals have not been subjected to comprehensive empirical validation. More comprehensive evaluations can provide information regarding the validity of content, the quality of design, the perceptions of users, and the barriers that might be encountered when implementing professional development software. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of a computer-based self-instructional program on functional behavioral assessment. This article describes a study that evaluated a self-instructional tutorial on functional behavioral assessment using a comprehensive model of evaluation. The model included the evaluation of (a) content, design, and organizational acceptance, (b) effectiveness of the training, (c) the perceptions of users, and (d) difficulties encountered during implementation. The article discusses the results of the evaluation, presents implications for researchers and software developers, and concludes with suggestions for future research.
Teacher Education
Authors: Smith Sean
Published: January 2017

In this issue, Dr. Monica Brown, a colleague here at the University of Kansas, offers perspectives related to multicultural education and technology. While specific needs exist within multicultural education, readers should see that there are direct correlation between the needs of multicultural education and technology and special education and technology. We would argue that as we strive to address training needs of future as well as current special and general education teachers towards technology, special education and multicultural perspectives should be considered as part of this process and be pertinent to the overall success.
Video-Case Instruction for Teachers of Students with Problem Behaviors in General and Special Education Classrooms
Authors: Anderson Darlene H. , Lignugaris/Kraft Benjamin
Published: January 2017

This study examined the effects of a video-case presentation on the behavior analytic skills of 45 preservice elementary teachers. Brief video clips of scripted classroom scenes and 20–30 minute nonscripted videotaped classroom segments were used to assess teachers' behavior analyses prior to and following video instruction. Participant responses were evaluated to determine whether (a) behavior statements included analytical components and (b) responses aligned with video content. Results of the acquisition (knowledge) measure indicated statistically significant differences between experimental and control group performance on Posttests 1–3. Knowledge measure findings were replicated with the control group on Posttests 4–6. Significant differences in group means were noted on Posttests 2 and 3 of the generalization measure for experimental and control group responses meeting predetermined scoring criteria.
Assistive Technology for Individuals with Disabilities: A Review and Synthesis of the Literature
Authors: Alper Sandra , Raharinirina Sahoby
Published: January 2017

Despite the emphasis on technology and the rapid proliferation of assistive technology devices, little is known about the specific uses of assistive technology with persons who vary in disability type, severity, and age. The present study conducted a comprehensive review and a systematic analysis of published reports of assistive technology and skill acquisition of persons with disabilities. Uses of assistive technology, its benefits and obstacles, are reviewed. The results provide indications why technology is often abandoned. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.
Psychoeducational Testing and the Personal Computer
Authors: Fifield M. Bryce
Published: January 2017

The use of personal computers to aid in the administration, scoring, and interpretation of individual psychoeducational tests is growing. Currently computers are used to assist in managing assessment information, scoring and interpreting tests, and administering tests of cognitive abilities, academic skills, adaptive behaviors, and social skills. Although the content validity of assessment instruments developed for computer administration may have certain practical limitations, several useful advantages can be gained by using the computer to administer tests. Some of the advantages include improved levels of standardization in the procedures used during test administration, scoring, and interpretation; the collection of response data in real time; and the development and use of assessment models that were heretofore too complex for human presentation.
Special Education Teachers' Preferences for Sources of Software Evaluation Information
Authors: Malouf David B. , Morariu Janis , Coulson Doug B. , Maiden Vicki S.
Published: January 2017

This article describes a survey of special education teachers' ratings of usefulness for specific items of software evaluation information and their preferences regarding the sources from which to obtain these items of information. The survey found that the highest usefulness ratings were given to items of information related to hardware compatibility, appropriateness for students, and software operation and use Software tryout without students was the most preferred source of information, followed by software documentation/manuals, and written ratings/descriptions from evaluations or reviews. Two other sources—talking with other educators and tryout with students—were preferred for relatively few items of information, and three sources—pictures of sample screens, school system lists of recommended software, and software catalogs/advertisements—were not highly preferred for any information. The results of the survey are discussed in relation to software evaluation procedures for use in the schools.
Computerized Drill-and-Practice and Academic Attitudes of Learning Disabled Students
Authors: Watkins Marley W.
Published: January 2017

Computerized drill-and-practice is currently a primary application of microcomputers in special education. This application has been disparaged by some, but in many cases has been demonstrated effective in improving the academic skills of learning disabled (LD) and underachieving children. This investigation found that 126 LD students who received computerized math and spelling drill-and-practice for a year expressed significantly more positive attitudes toward academic work on the computer than toward similar academic tasks undertaken in the regular classroom. They also reported opinions significantly more favorable toward math and spelling drill than opinions expressed by 89 other learning disabled students, who did not have access to computerized math and spelling instruction, toward academic work performed in their special education classrooms. Analysis by gender of student revealed that boys were significantly less positive about school than girls but that boys and girls were equally positive about practicing academic skills on the microcomputer. It was concluded that computerized drill-and-practice may be more effective than once believed and that additional research is needed to identify the components of computerized drill-and-practice that result in academic and attitudinal gains among learning disabled pupils.
Training Educators to Accurately Classify Learning Disabled Students Using Concept Instruction and Expert System Technology
Authors: Prater Mary Anne , Ferrara Joseph M.
Published: January 2017

CLASS.LD2, a computer-based expert system designed to provide second-opinion advice on the appropriateness of a learning disabilities classification, was combined with strategies of effective concept instruction to create an instructional package entitled LD.Trainer. LD.Trainer was used to train preservice and inservice regular and special educators to more accurately identify students qualifying for special education under the classification of learning disabilities. The effectiveness of LD.Trainer was compared with exposure to the original CLASS.LD2 system. Ninety-seven volunteer university students were randomly assigned to the LD.Trainer or CLASS.LD2 treatment groups. Subjects who completed the LD.Trainer materials scored statistically and educationally higher on the posttest than those who used the original CLASS.LD2 system. Recommendations for future study and incorporation of effective concept instruction strategies in preparation of special educators are addressed.
Local Validation of Mandate Consultant: An Expert System for Assuring Compliance in the IEP Process
Authors: Van Geldern Lu , Ferrara Joseph M. , Parry James D. , Rude Harvey
Published: January 2017

When schools fail to comply with state and federal regulations regarding IEP development, students, faculty and programs are at risk. Many schools currently conduct internal file reviews to identify and correct compliance problems. Unfortunately, special education file review is a time consuming task which is usually done by an experienced special educator or school psychologist.

Expert system computer programs are designed to allow personnel with relatively low skill levels to complete a task which usually requires a good deal of training and experience. Mandate Consultant is an expert system designed to assist in special education file review. This study uses an easily replicable model to compare the file review performance of a secretary using Mandate Consultant with that of a special education expert.

The secretary produced reports which were five times more accurate and over twenty times less expensive than the reports generated by the expert. Expert systems may provide a practical tool for reducing costs associated with assuring legal compliance.
Time Varying Volatility in the Indian Stock Market
Authors: Kaur Harvinder
Published: January 2017

This paper investigates the nature and characteristics of stock market volatility in India. The volatility in the Indian stock market exhibits characteristics similar to those found earlier in many of the major developed and emerging stock markets. Various volatility estimators and diagnostic tests indicate volatility clustering, i.e., shocks to the volatility process persist and the response to news arrival is asymmetrical, meaning that the impact of good and bad news is not the same. Suitable volatility forecast models are used for Sensex and Nifty returns to show that: The ‘day-of-the-week effect’ or the ‘weekend effect’ and the ‘January effect’ are not present while the return and volatility do show intra-week and intra-year seasonality. The return and volatility on various weekdays have somewhat changed after the introduction of rolling settlements in December 1999. There is mixed evidence of return and volatility spillover between the US and Indian markets.

The empirical findings would be useful to investors, stock exchange administrators and policy makers as these provide evidence of time varying nature of stock market volatility in India. Specifically, they need to consider the following findings of the study: For both the indices, among the months, February exhibits highest volatility and corresponding highest return. The month of March also exhibits significantly higher volatility but the magnitude is lesser as compared to February. This implies that, during these two months, the conditional volatility tends to increase. This phenomenon could be attributed to probably the most significant economic event of the year, viz., presentation of the Union Budget. The investors, therefore, should keep away from the market during March after having booked profits in February itself. The surveillance regime at the stock exchanges around the Budget should be stricter to keep excessive volatility under check. Similarly, the month of December gives high positive returns without high volatility and, therefore, offers good opportunity to the investors to make safe returns on Sensex and Nifty. On the contrary, in the month of September, i.e., the time when the third quarter corporate results are announced, volatility is higher but corresponding returns are lower. The situation is, therefore, not conducive to investors. The ‘weekend effect’ or the ‘Monday effect’ is not present. For other weekdays, the ‘higher (lower) the risk, higher (lower) the return’ dictum does not hold consistently and Wednesday provides higher returns with lower volatility making it a good day to invest. The domestic investors and the stock exchange administrators do not need to lose sleep over gyrations in the major US markets since there is no conclusive evidence of consistent relationship between the US and the domestic markets. The volatility forecast models presented for Sensex and Nifty can be used to forecast future volatility of these indices.
Relevance of Emotional Intelligence for Effective Job Performance: An Empirical Study
Authors: Mishra Priti Suman , Mohapatra A K Das
Published: January 2017

There has been an increase in interest in ‘emotional intelligence’ within the Indian organization system in recent years. This increase has been attributed to the popularization of the construct of emotional intelligence in the research area. The promotion of emotional development in corporate organizations assumes that the ability to regulate emotions is a positive trait, which is associated with positive workplace performance. There is however, currently, little evidence to support the existence of such a relationship. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between emotional intelligence and workplace performance among corporate executives.

The research was carried out in various organizations in Delhi NCR. A questionnaire design was used to explore whether there was a relationship between emotional intelligence scores and scores from performance assessment checklist for a sample of 90 males and females from different streams of population were taken. The relationship was explored using an analysis of correlation. The effect of demographic variables, e.g., gender, academic qualification, and work experience on EI score were also explored.

The analysis found statistically significant positive correlations between scores on the emotional intelligence scale and scores on the performance scales. This means that increased emotional intelligence scores were associated with increased performance among executives working in various sectors. These results provide evidence of the concurrent validity of the emotional intelligence scale and also support the notion that emotional intelligence is associated with more or less workplace performances. The causal nature of this relationship cannot be inferred from the current study and further research is recommended to explore alternative explanations for this relationship. Out of the different demographic variables, only work experience was found to correlate positively with EI score. Experienced executives scored significantly higher on EI scale compared to less experienced executives.

The results of the study are discussed within the context of the limitations of the current study and findings from previous research. The implications of the findings for organizations, policy makers, HR professionals, trainers, and future research are reflected upon.
Makemytrip.com (A)
Authors: Kar Sanjay Kumar
Published: January 2017

I am amazed to see the way in which the Indian online travel market is taking off. The market for buying travel online is ripe and shift from offline to online booking is getting accelerated. We intend to seize this opportunity by launching our site well before the competition � this would enable us to take a sizable lead.
Surface and Pores of Silica Gels as a State of Colloidal Aggregation
Authors: Kondo S.
Published: January 2017

The state of aggregation and ageing of colloidal silicas was studied in view of the behaviour of silanol groups, by means of thermodynamic, mechanical, ir spectroscopic and chemical methods. A close relationship was found between surface areas, porosities, and other properties of hydrothermally, thermally and chemically treated silicas, and the species and their populations of silanol groups.
Influence of Mono- and Bivalent Cations in 4A-Zeolites on the Adsorptive Separation of Ethene and Propene from Crack-Gases
Authors: Schoellner R. , Mueller U.
Published: January 2017

Adsorption of ethane/ethene, propane/propene and methane, ethane/ethene, propene mixtures was examined on 4A-zeolites K0·08Na0·92A, Ba0·2Na0·8A, Mg0·2Na0·8A and NaA by measurement of breakthrough curves. Separation of the alkenes and alkanes, especially dynamic capacities, the purity of the desorbates and yields of olefins, confirm the accepted transport mechanism of small alkenes in 4A-zeolites. It is possible to vary the blocking cations and the adsorption centres in the large cavities to obtain favourable conditions for a common separation of ethene and propene from crack-gases.
Adsorption Properties of Zeolites Prepared by Different Procedures
Authors: Lohse U. , Richter-Mendau J. , Patzelová V.
Published: January 2017

The adsorption on n-hexane at 298 K on dealuminated zeolites appears to be defined by their aluminium content.
A Technique to Study the Adsorption of Oily Collectors onto Coal and Gangue Minerals
Authors: Franzidis J.-P. , Anderson G. V. M.
Published: January 2017

A technique has been developed to study the adsorption of paraffinic i.e. alkane (or other hydrocarbon oil) collectors onto coal and gangue mineral surfaces under dynamic conditions. The oily collector is present as the dispersed phase of a dilute oil-in-water dispersion. Solid particles are added to this dispersion and agitated to give a system analagous to that found in flotation cells prior to aeration, i.e. during conditioning.

The technique enables study of the overall or apparent kinetics involved in the collision and effective adsorption of collector droplets onto coal or mineral particles.

Results obtained show that adsorption is very rapid and tenacious, even under turbulent conditions. The hydrocarbon collectors are selective. Adsorption onto gangue (undesirable minerals) is limited and decreasing adsorption is evident as coal fractions become increasingly dense, i.e. as their gangue (ash) content increases. Commercial kerosene (Shellsol K) behaved in a similar way to the pure alkane collector with similar boiling point (dodecane).
Adsorbents for Industrial Pollution Control
Authors: El-Geundi Mohammad S.
Published: January 2017

Adsorbent materials used for treating industrial pollutants are reviewed. The article consists of two parts. The first part considers new trends in traditional adsorbents such as activated carbons and zeolites. New low-cost adsorbents such as waste materials and clay minerals are discussed in the second part.

It has been reported that activated carbons can be obtained from agricultural by-products such as shells and stones of various fruit by a simple single-stage method. This method differs from the traditional processes for the production of activated carbons. On the other hand, natural zeolites have been used as low-cost adsorbents in industrial pollution control. The extent of their application is not only related to their low cost, but also to the improved properties and performance characteristics which they possess.

Recently, a variety of agricultural and industrial waste materials and clay minerals have been evaluated as new adsorbents with an excellent potential for the removal of different pollutants from wastewater. The new low-cost adsorbents obtained were found to have large adsorption capacities and good mechanical properties.
Arch-Supported Membrane Shelters under Wind and Snow Loading
Authors: Carradine David M. , Plaut Raymond H.
Published: January 2017

For many years, inflatable structures and membrane-enclosed structures have proved useful for a variety of purposes. Recently, structures that combine highly-pressurised inflatable arch members with light fabric membrane coverings have been developed for use as a variation of such structural systems. These structures could have large openings and be utilised as aircraft hangars, vehicle maintenance shelters, medical aid stations, and emergency shelters following disasters. Two physical models of such structures are tested in this study. First they are placed in wind tunnels at various orientations to the airflow, and their dynamic responses are observed. Then they are subjected to weights simulating snow loads, and the weights are increased until either the material fails or the structure collapses.
Evaluation of Chromatin Clumping and Myelination of the Spinal Cord of Pigs with Congenital Tremor
Authors: Lamar C. H. , Van Sickle D. C.
Published: January 2017

Clumps of chromatin in the spinal cord of 2- to 10-day-old pigs with congenital tremor were of no diagnostic value since they were present also in unaffected pigs of the same age. No differences in shape, size, number, location, and staining characteristics of the clumps were found. The clumps were thought to be evidence of cellular necrobiosis. The cords of pigs with tremor had distinctly less myelin than those of normal pigs.
Myxosarcoma in a Young Rhesus Monkey
Authors: Moe J. B. , White J. D. , Czajkowski W. P. , Stookey J. L.
Published: January 2017

A myxosarcoma that arose spontaneously in the ilial region of a young male Rhesus monkey grew rapidly and invaded and lysed the pelvic bones. It consisted of large pleomorphic cells, with single or multiple nuclei and dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum, in abundant intercellular matrix.
Abnormal Hepatic Copper Storage in a Teleost Fish (Morone americana)
Authors: Bunton T. E. , Baksi S. M. , George S. G. , Frazier J. M.
Published: January 2017

Excessive copper storage in livers of feral white perch ( Morone americana) from the Chesapeake Bay is described. Age-related, progressive accumulation of hepatic copper in levels often exceeding 1,000 μg/g wet weight was associated with peribiliary fibrosis and inflammation, bile duct hyperplasia, prominent, enlarged melanomacrophage centers, and disruption of hepatic architecture in older fish. Levels of zinc were mildly elevated compared to striped bass ( Morone saxitilis) and adult rats. Cholangiomas were found in two perch. Rubeanic acid-stained liver had abundant copper-positive cytoplasmic granules in hepatocytes and cells of melanomacrophage centers. Subcellular fractionation showed that 90% of hepatocellular copper was in nuclei/ cell debris fractions (which also contain tertiary lysosomes). Using electron probe microanalysis, high copper levels were localized in hepatocellular cytoplasmic bodies. Resolution of hepatic cytosol by gel permeation chromatography indicated that approximately 50% of the cytosolic copper in the white perch was bound to non-specific high molecular weight proteins, with the remaining 50% eluting at a peak where rat metallothionein is located. Ultrastructural examination revealed abundant lysosomes, increased size and number of peroxisomes, and increased density and numbers of mitochondrial matrix granules. This study indicates that white perch may be a model for studying effects of excessive copper accumulation and cellular mechanisms which control copper kinetics.
Idiopathic Extramural Coronary Arteritis in Beagle and Mongrel Dogs
Authors: Hartman H. A.
Published: January 2017

Hearts obtained from 119 toxicological experiments on dogs during a 21-year period (1965–1986) were evaluated histologically to determine the incidence and characteristics of focal microscopic inflammatory lesions of the extramural coronary arteries. Lesions were encountered in 23% of 119 experiments. The average overall incidence was 2.3% of 1,905 control and chemically treated male and female beagle hearts (3.1% of male and 1.3% of female control beagles, and 1.8% of male and 2.8% of female treated beagles). Lesions were seen in 4.7% of 127 random-source mongrel dogs. Histologically, lesions were characterized by adventitial infiltrates of mononuclear cells, areas of mural necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltrates in both mural and subendothelial regions. In the latter region, fibrosis developed separating the intima from the internal elastic membrane. Lesions occurred in the right and left coronary arteries and in the dorsal, circumflex, and ventral descending branches of the left coronary artery. Vascular lesions were not present in the intramural coronary vessels or in vessels of other organs in affected animals. More extensive sampling of the extramural coronary arteries revealed an incidence of 5–9%. The lesion of focal extramural coronary arteritis was idiopathic, and not a manifestation of the polyarteritis syndrome of dogs.
Hyperostosis of the Marrow Cavity Caused by Misoprostol in CD-1 Strain Mice
Authors: Dodd D. C. , Port C. D.
Published: January 2017

Misoprostol, a synthetic prostaglandin E1, was administered to CD-1 mice daily by gavage for 21 months in a safety study. Hyperostosis of the marrow cavity in the sternum and femur was found predominantly in female mice of the medium (1,600 mcg/kg/day) and high dosage (16,000 mcg/kg/day) groups. Many of the mice with hyperostosis also had cystic ovaries and cystic endometrial hyperplasia indicative of hyperestrinism. It is postulated that the hyperostosis was the result not only of the effects of misoprostol but also of endogenous estrogen. Since misoprostol did not cause hyperostosis in either rats or dogs, it is probable that this effect in mice is unique.
Conjunctival Lesions Caused by Moraxella bovis in Gnotobiotic Calves
Authors: Rogers D. G. , Cheville N. F. , Pugh G. W.
Published: January 2017

Hemolytic Moraxella bovis was instilled into the conjunctival sac of gnotobiotic calves, and conjunctivae were sampled serially after infection. Bilateral lesions developed in seven of eight infected calves. Histologically, M. bovis was first seen within swollen epithelial cells near the lid margins and occasionally within superficial epithelium in other areas. Conjunctival erosions and ulcers were seen in later stages. Scanning electron microscopy showed M. bovis in pits on surfaces of epithelial cells and in erosions on palpebral conjunctivae; lesions were prominent near lid margins. By transmission electron microscopy, M. bovis was seen within swollen epithelial cells near lid margins; many epithelial cells had undergone cytolysis. This study demonstrates that virulent M. bovis can invade bovine conjunctival epithelial cells and cause conjunctivitis in the absence of injurious ultraviolet irradiation or other predisposing environmental factors.
Size Referenced Electronic Leukocyte Counting Threshold and Lysed Leukocyte Size Distribution of Common Domestic Animal Species
Authors: Weiser M. G.
Published: January 2017

Using a single channel electronic cell counter and attached particle size analyzer, leukocyte size distribution histograms were determined on canine, feline, bovine, and equine blood diluted with chloride-based diluent and treated with a conventional stromatolysin. Histograms were usually unimodal, but a few were bimodal. Mean values for mean lysed leukocyte particle volume were 49.2, 51.1, 55.4, and 65.0 fl for canine, feline, equine, and bovine blood, respectively. From inspection of histograms, a lower threshold of 30 fl referenced to latex spheres was interpreted to be appropriate for counting leukocytes of these four species simultaneously. Debris below the threshold was seen in many samples and was usually separated from the leukocyte population by a valley touching the histogram baseline at the threshold channel. Debris resulted in a visually detectable threshold failure by extending considerably into the leukocyte size range in 9% of feline, 9% of canine, and 7% of bovine samples. It is recommended that careful establishment of the lower counting threshold will minimize frequency and severity of leukocyte count error associated with failure to exclude debris.
The Exodus Motif in 1 Kings 1–14
Authors: Frisch Amos
Published: January 2017

The appearance of the Exodus motif in several books of the Bible has been the subject of several studies. The present article examines the use of the Exodus motif in chs. 1–14 of the first book of Kings, first identifying explicit references, and concluding with more oblique ones. These allusions appear in passages attributed to various redactional layers, and are raised by a variety of figures (the narrator, God, the characters). Through their very appearance, the Exodus allusions contribute to the overall unity of the text. It is proposed that these references serve several different functions: to heighten the importance of the United Kingdom and its link to the Exodus; to abet the assessment of the characters of Solomon and Jeroboam, including the reversal of the assessment concerning them; to underscore the debt of fealty to God, and the justification of the punishment meted out against the sinners. Conversely, they highlight the commitment of God to his people, leading to their pardon.
The Nose Knows: Bodily Knowing in Isaiah 11.3
Authors: Ritchie Ian D.
Published: January 2017

While some recent studies have enlarged our knowledge of the olfactory world of ancient Israel, exploration of the relative value of olfaction as a means of knowing has been largely neglected. Isaiah 11.3 is a passage modern exegetes have reconstructed or expurgated because its literal sense has the Messiah discerning good from evil by smell: an impossibility to the Enlightenment model of reality. But recent anthropology informs us of extraordinary olfactory discernment in African religion and the Islamic world. A brief history of exegesis confirms that Jewish commentators accepted an olfactory Messiah, but interpretation since the mid-nineteenth century, and even more prominently in the twentieth, has sought to reconstruct a hypothetical ‘original’ text, evidencing a modern ocularcentric bias.
Hagar Requited
Authors: Reis Pamela Tamarkin
Published: January 2017

This paper provides a unique and textually justified reading that affords greater understanding of the biblical representation of Sarah, Hagar, Abraham, Ishmael and God. It argues for the privileged position of Hagar's suffering in God's precise economy of crime and punishment, details the conspicuous parallels between Hagar's ordeal and Moses' experience and demonstrates that the biblical imperative to deal righteously with the stranger is the conscience-shaping ethical consequence of the sacrifice of Hagar. The Hagar stories are not about male or ethnic dominance but about divine justice and human compassion.
Dowry, Norms, and Household Formation:
Authors: Osswald Helena
Published: January 2017

The study uses a data base of 28 parishes in northern Portugal at the beginning of the seventeenth century to analyze the situation of young couples in terms of household composition, residential patterns, and inheritance rules. These matters are linked to cultural factors such as marital and generational relations and an attempt is made to explain the functioning of the conjugal fund and the roles of family members independent of the social and economic characteristics of the couples.
Gender and Public Policy in India: Invisibilizing Socially Reproductive Labour
Authors: Arya Sadhna
Published: January 2017

This paper looks at the manner in which women have been represented in the development agenda of the Indian state and the implications on the subjectivities and identities of women. The focus is on the centrality of unpaid labour of women in terms of their ‘caring’ role in the household, the main site where the quests for gender equality and justice are fought, won and/or lost in the first instance. The centrality of women's unpaid domestic labour to the production and reproduction of the household and ultimately the production and reproduction of the economy at the local, regional and national levels constitute a permanent element in the structuring of the economy of care. While both the state and market forces have created incentives for women to enter the public production process, one does not find similar efforts to encourage men to take over household and caring responsibilities. The paper empirically traces the manner in which women have been defined in the post-independence economic debates and policies. The attempt is to understand the extent to which policy interventions have incorporated the needs and experiences of women. What are the concepts and assumptions behind these policies? How do they view women ‘s role in family, society and economy of the country? To what extent and in what manner have the policies addressed the issue of the socially reproductive (unpaid and invisible) labour of women? Bringing our observations to the present, the paper analyses as to how women, especially poor women, have been configured/located in the articulations between a global economic discourse and state institutions and agencies.
An Extended Skin Excision Otoplasty Technique for the Prominent Ear
Authors: Hopping Steven B. , Gupta Ashmit
Published: January 2017

Introduction:

Otoplasty enhances the quality of human life by offering the opportunity to correct prominent ears, a common deformity that has significant negative impact on the psychosocial well-being of many patients.

Materials and Methods:

We describe a simple extended skin excision technique that addresses various cosmetic ear abnormalities by stabilizing conchal position during healing while facilitating the curvature of the antihelix by creating skin tension and thus relying less on suture fixation. The key technical aspects of this procedure and short- and long-term results are discussed.

Results:

Twenty-two patients underwent otoplasty from 1997 to 2000. On follow-up, patients were very satisfied with the results of the procedure. A small percentage did suffer some minor complications.

Discussion:

This otoplasty technique provides long-term natural cosmetic results with generally low risk and morbidity, making it an ideal addition to the armamentarium of the cosmetic surgeon.
Upward Migration of the Subpectoral Implant and its Correction
Authors: Carli Alexander , Nguyen Ethan-Quan
Published: January 2017

After augmented mammaplasty, subtle upward migration of the subpectoral implant due to muscle contraction is not uncommon. This degree of implant movement is usually not noticeable or bothersome to the patient. However, there are rare cases of pronounced upward migration that require treatment. We report a new and simple procedure to correct this problem by (1) dividing the pectoralis major above the areola to break the spring that causes the implant migration and (2) plicating the upper end of the severed pectoralis muscle to the chest wall. This maneuver transposes the upper part of the implant from the submuscular to the subglandular position and preserves good coverage and support of the implant in the submuscular pocket of the lower pole of the breast.
Effect of Porous Structure on the Degradation of Freeze-Dried Gelatin Hydrogels
Authors: Kang Hye-Won , Tabata Yasuhiko , Ikada Yoshito
Published: January 2017

Porous biodegradable hydrogels were prepared by glutaraldehyde crosslinking of acidic gelatin with an isoelectric point of 5.0, followed by freeze-drying. The inner structures of the freeze-dried hydrogels were strongly dependent on the preliminary freezing temperatures prior to freeze-drying. As the freezing temperature was raised, the pore size of the freeze-dried hydrogels increased while their wall thickness decreased. The hydrogels frozen at -20°C swell more rapidly in water than those at 408 and -196°C. In vivo and in vitro degradations of freeze-dried hydrogels with different inner structures were evaluated subcutis in mice and in a collagenase aqueous solution, respectively. The hydrogels prepared at -20°C were more rapidly degraded both in vitro and in vivo, compared to those at -80° and -196°C. The hydrogels freeze-dried at -196°C had the smallest pore size, thickest gelatin walls, and required a longer time for complete degradation. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was impregnated into the gelatin hydrogels and the in vitro bFGF release was evaluated. No influence by the inner structure on the release profile of bFGF was observed. Since bFGF is ionically completed with acidic gelatin, it is possible that it was released from these gelatin hydrogels in a similar fashion, irrespective of the hydrogel inner structure.
Conference Report
Authors: Potts Gareth
Published: January 2017

‘University—Enterprise Partnerships in Action: Knowledge and Technology Transfer — Economic and Social Development’, organized by CAPITTAL (COMMETT University—Enterprise Training Partnership for London, based at the University of North London Economic Development Unit and Innovation Centre), London, 22–23 June 1995
Opto-electrical properties of some quaternized polysulfones
Authors: Albu Raluca Marinica , Avram Ecaterina , Musteata Valentina Elena , Homocianu Mihaela , Ioan Silvia
Published: January 2017

A novel quaternized polysulfone with N-dimethylethylammonium chloride (DMEA) and N-dimethyloctylammonium chloride (DMOA) pendent groups was investigated, as to its optical and electronic properties. Optical properties were investigated by refractivity and transmission spectra. To obtain the optical parameters, the approach proposed by Tauc for amorphous semiconductors has been used, because of the similarity of the absorption edges. The values of pseudogap energy ranged between 3.60 and 3.69 eV, while those of Urbach energy were modified over the 157—172 meV range. The dielectric properties and ac-conductivity were also studied as a function of temperature, frequency and structure of pendant groups. It was observed that the dielectric constant decreased as the frequency increased and the temperature decreased. In addition, quaternized polysulfone films were characterized by two relaxation processes, i.e., γ and β relaxation, which appeared at different temperatures, depending on the pendant groups. The frequency—temperature-dependent conductivity showed that conductivity increased with frequency and also that the quaternized polysulfones possessed typical semiconducting properties. All parameters were found to be slightly influenced by the polymer chain structure.
Assessing surveillance using sensitivity, specificity and timeliness
Authors: Kleinman Ken P , Abrams Allyson M
Published: January 2017

Monitoring ongoing processes of illness to detect sudden changes is an important aspect of practical epidemiology and medicine more generally. Most commonly, the monitoring has been restricted to a unidimensional stream of data over time. In such situations, analytic results from the industrial process monitoring have suggested optimal approaches to monitor the data streams. Data streams including spatial location as well as temporal sequence are becoming available. Monitoring methods that incorporate spatial data may prove superior to those that ignore it. However, analytically, optimal methods for spatial surveil-lance data may not exist. In the present article, we introduce and discuss evaluation metrics that can be used to compare the performance of statistical methods of surveillance. Our general approach is to generalize receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to incorporate the time of detection in addition to the usual test characteristics of sensitivity and specificity. In addition to weighting ordinary ROC curves by two measures of timeliness, we describe three three-dimensional generalizations of ROC curves that result in timeliness-ROC surfaces. Working in the context of surveillance of cases of disease to detect a sudden outbreak, we demonstrate these in an artificial example and in a previously described simulation context and show how the metrics differ. We also discuss the differences and under which circumstances one might prefer a given method.
Metabolic Correlates of Theophylline Therapy: A Concentration-Related Phenomenon
Authors: Flack John M. , Ryder Kenneth W. , Strickland Daniel , Whang Robert
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the relationship of serum theophylline concentration with electrolyte and glucose abnormalities across a broad range of theophylline concentrations.

DESIGN:

Retrospective review of a computerized laboratory database between June 1, 1984 and June 1, 1986.

SETTING:

A midwestern university medical center.

PATIENTS:

Eight hundred sixty-nine patients with serum theophylline concentrations of >5.5 μmol/L and a random unmatched sample (control group) of 350 in- and outpatient adults and children with no history of reactive airways disease or theophylline exposure.

RESULTS:

Patients with measurable theophylline had a higher risk of hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hyperglycemia, hypophosphatemia, and hypomagnesemia compared with the unexposed control group. Unadjusted odds ratios (OR) were: (1) hypokalemia OR=4.2 (95 percent CI 2.2 to 7.9); (2) hyponatremia OR=5.4 (95 percent CI 2.0 to 12.9); (3) hypomagnesemia OR=1.6 (95 percent CI 1.0 to 2.5); (4) hyperglycemia OR=2.3 (95 percent CI 1.7 to 3.0); and (5) hypophosphatemia OR=2.7 (95 percent CI 1.2 to 5.3). A linear concentration—response relationship was documented between serum theophylline concentration and all metabolic disturbances.

conclusions:

Measurable theophylline was associated with increased risk for glucose and electrolyte abnormalities in a concentration-related fashion across a broad range of theophylline concentrations from 5.5 to ≥110 μmol/L.
Postoperative Nystagmus and Nausea
Authors: Larijani Ghassem E. , Gratz Irwin , Afshar Mary
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the presence and the relationship between postoperative nystagmus and nausea.

DESIGN:

Open-label study.

SETTING:

University hospital.

PATIENTS:

Sixty-six patients recovering from general anesthesia following elective ambulatory surgeries.

INTERVENTIONS:

Patients were tested postoperatively for nystagmus using an electronystagmography, and were monitored for nausea and vomiting for the first postoperative day.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

A comparison of the incidence of nausea was made among patients with and without postoperative nystagmus.

RESULTS:

Twenty-four patients (36 percent) experienced postoperative nausea and 28 patients (42 percent) had nystagmus. There were no significant differences in age, weight, height, dosage of fentanyl, or postoperative use of narcotics between those who experienced postoperative nausea or had nystagmus than those who did not. A significantly greater percentage of female patients compared with male patients had nausea during the first postoperative day. Sixty percent of patients with nystagmus experienced nausea in the hospital compared with 18 percent of the patients without nystagmus (p<0.01, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] of the difference = 11.3 to 61.3 percent). Twenty-two patients (78 percent) with nystagmus experienced nausea during the first postoperative day compared with 14 patients (36 percent) with no nystagmus (p<0.01, 95 percent CI of the difference = 20.1 to 63.3 percent). Eighty-three percent of the nauseated patients experienced vomiting during the first postoperative day.

CONCLUSIONS:

The presence of nystagmus in the early part of recovery from general anesthesia is associated with a higher incidence of nausea and vomiting during the first postoperative day.
Effect of Preparation Method and Storage on Rifampin Concentration in Suspensions
Authors: Nahata Milap C. , Morosco Richard S. , Hipple Thomas F.
Published: January 2017

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effect of four preparation methods and extended storage on rifampin concentration in extemporaneously prepared suspensions.

DESIGN:

Four preparation methods were used: mixing intravenous (iv) rifampin in syrup (A); manufacturer's recommended technique of mixing capsule (Rifadin) contents in syrup (B); triturating capsule contents in syrup into a paste and adding remaining syrup while mixing (C); and triturating capsule contents in syrup into a paste, adding syrup, retriturating the slurry, and adding remaining syrup while mixing (D). Samples were drawn from each of five bottles of each of the four preparations stored at 4 °C, immediately after mixing (day 0), and on days 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 91 days during storage. Rifampin wes measured by a stability-indicating HPLC method.

RESULTS:

The measured mean concentrations of rifampin were nearly 100 percent of the initial concentration in the suspension prepared from iv rifampin solution (method A) during the first 56 days of storage. In contrast, the measured concentrations were substantially lower than expected in the suspensions prepared by methods B, C, and D. The mean rifampin concentrations in suspensions prepared by methods B, C, and D were only 14.5, 38.6, and 68 percent, respectively, of the initial concentration achieved by method A. The rifampin concentrations increased with storage time in suspensions prepared by methods B, C, and D. The mean rifampin concentration was lower than 90 percent during the first 14 days with methods B and C, and the first 7 days with method D. The highest mean concentrations were observed on day 42 with method B, and on day 28 with methods C and D. All methods yielded 90% of the labeled potency (10 mg/mL) on day 56.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results showed that preparation method can influence the dispersion, and thus the measured concentration, of rifampin in aliquots of suspensions prepared from capsules and stored in plastic bottles. Suspensions prepared from capsules led to lower-than-expected rifampin concentrations; those prepared from iv rifampin did not. Rifampin was stable in each type of suspension for 56 days at 4 °C.