bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel automated measuring system for evaluating labile plasma iron in serum
Authors: Saito Takeshi , Ikuta Katsuya , Hatayama Mayumi , Shibusa Kotoe , Matsui Kozo , Tanaka Riki , Toki Yasumichi , Kato Daisuke , Iizuka Naomi , Okumura Toshikatsu
Published: June 2019

Background

As the saturation of transferrin by iron in the serum is approximately 30%, iron loaded to the blood can bind to transferrin not bearing iron. Nevertheless, prolonged iron influx finally results in full transferrin saturation, and iron not bound to transferrin will appear in the serum; this iron is known as non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI). NTBI damages organs through the production of free radicals. Previously, we established an automated quantification system for NTBI; however, measuring labile plasma iron, which is considered as a highly redox-active component of NTBI, should be a better prognostic factor in iron-overloaded patients.

Methods

We designed and developed a novel system for evaluating labile plasma iron utilizing the Trinder reaction. Automated system was utilized because the previously reported methods for labile plasma iron are intricate and the introduction to the clinical stage has been challenging. Validations such as the contribution of serum proteins and metal ions for this system were evaluated using human serum samples.

Results

We confirmed that our novel system can evaluate labile plasma iron utilizing Trinder reaction and the oxidative potential of ceruloplasmin in the serum. This system was also confirmed to be clinically practical. Metals other than iron did not influence this system. We observed that samples with high NTBI did not always exhibit high labile plasma iron and vice versa, highlighting the necessity of labile plasma iron quantification in evaluating the toxicity of NTBI.

Conclusions

Our novel system should contribute to fundamental and clinical research because it can measure labile plasma iron using the high-throughput automated analyser.
Integrated Sustainable Waste Management in Tourism Markets: The Case of Bali
Authors: Koski-Karell Natalie S.
Published: June 2019

The analysis presented here will apply the integrated sustainable waste management (ISWM) model to Bali’s tourism industry to contemplate the viability of introducing to the island tech-based infrastructure, specifically solar-powered waste compactors, in low- to medium-density areas. The current system of waste management in Bali reveals a lack of cooperation among its stakeholders; hotels and luxury developers are using non-biodegradable materials at a massive scale—the proper disposal of which the local residents are unfamiliar with—and much of this waste ends up in illegal dumps. This system illustrates how inherently unsustainable the tourism industry is in general and especially in areas lacking consistent government supervision. This article will explore how a culture-shift perspective, organisation of cooperative entities, multi-stakeholder governance and integration of tech-based solutions can help alleviate current pressure on the waste system in Bali.
Removal of NOX from diesel engine exhaust by using different chemical absorbent in a lab-scale packed column system
Authors: Arunkumar V , Krishnamurthy K , Maheswari C , Meenakshipriya B , Vinoth R
Published: June 2019

Emissions of NOX from automobile causes various environmental impacts. In order to satisfy the emission norms and standards, it is necessary to reduce the toxic gases from emission. This paper concentrates on designing a packed column and analysis on the selection of an effective absorbent to reduce NOX emission from diesel engines. NOX emission is taken from the exhaust of diesel engine (Kirloskar TV1 Diesel engine). Flue gas inlet to the packed column and the treated gas at the outlet of the packed column are measured using NOX inlet and outlet gas sensors, respectively. Absorbent flow is carried out in a lab-scale packed column experimental setup. Various parameters of the packed column such as liquid: gas ratio, diameter, total height and packing height are determined based on the mathematical modeling. The NOX emission was experimentally measured with various combinations of different absorbents with different flow rate. Based on the experiments, effective absorbents are chosen as NaClO2 and NaOH. Experimental results show chemical absorbent combination with 0.5 M concentration of sodium chlorite and 0.3 M concentration of sodium hydroxide at 80% data acquisition card opening condition is absorbing NOX effectively.
Metaheuristic approach in machinability evaluation of silicon carbide particle/glass fiber–reinforced polymer matrix composites during electrochemical discharge machining process
Authors: Antil Parvesh , Singh Sarbjit , Singh Sunpreet , Prakash Chander , Pruncu Catalin Iulian
Published: June 2019

The advanced manufacturing and machining techniques are adopting a population-based metaheuristic algorithm for production, predicting and decision-making. Using the same approach, this paper deals with the application of bees algorithm and differential evolution to forecast the optimal parametric values aiming to obtain maximum material removal rate during electrochemical discharge machining of silicon carbide particle/glass fiber–reinforced polymer matrix composite. The bees algorithm follows swarm-based approach, while differential evolution works on a population-based approach. The experimental design was prepared on the basis of Taguchi’s methodology using an L16 orthogonal array. For the experimental analysis, the main variables in the process, that is, electrolyte concentration (g/L), inter-electrode gap (mm), duty factor and voltage (volts), were selected as main input parameters, and material removal rate (mg/min) was adjudged as output quality characteristic. A comparative investigation reveals that the maximum material removal rate was obtained by the parametric value proposed by differential evolution that follows the bees algorithm and Taguchi’s methodology. Furthermore, the results prove that the differential evolution algorithm has better collective assessment capability with a rapid converging rate.
Local government strategies in the face of shocks and crises: the role of anticipatory capacities and financial vulnerability
Authors: Barbera Carmela , Jones Martin , Korac Sanja , Saliterer Iris , Steccolini Ileana
Published: June 2019

This article, building on governmental financial resilience literature, and using data from a survey of over 600 local governments in Germany, Italy and the UK, looks at the role that external shocks, anticipatory capacities and associated perceived vulnerabilities play in determining different organizational response strategies (i.e. ‘bouncing back’ versus ‘bouncing forward’ strategies) at times of crisis. In the face of shocks, higher perceived vulnerabilities will especially be associated with bouncing back strategies, whereas the presence of anticipatory capacity will be associated with bouncing forward strategies.

Points for practitioners

The present study reveals the crucial role of perceived vulnerabilities and anticipatory capacities for local governments that face shocks and crises. While organizational responses in the sense of bouncing back (e.g. retrenchment, buffering, downsizing, cutbacks) are strongly linked to the associated vulnerabilities, the implementation of bouncing forward strategies (e.g. transformation, repositioning, reorientation) turns out to mainly be dependent on anticipatory capacities, which enable organizations to better recognize potential shocks before they arise. This emphasizes the importance of developing wider anticipatory capacities within local governments as a key element to cope effectively under difficult conditions, as well as to build and nurture a financial resilience culture.
On State-Building and Wicked Problems: Stateness, Nationhood and Mimicry
Authors: Mulaj Klejda
Published: June 2019

Responding to a set of wicked problems pertaining to weak or failed states, state-building remains circumscribed by many of the problems it strives to address. Despite the expansion of literature, the challenging task of (re)building states in a postconflict setting is characterized by inadequate intellectual and policy coherence. Engaging with the existing literature, this article seeks to add clarity in ways that relate directly to the agendas of academic research and policy making. Casting into sharper relief what is distinctive and/or familiar in state formation processes in the West and the rest of the world, the analysis highlights the differing impact of nationalism. In considering the critique that contemporary international-led state-building neglects nation-building, the article suggests that the stateness of polities undergoing state-building is intrinsically linked with nationhood. State-building resides in both international and national locations of politics which condition the constitution of national identity via multiple (unequal) exchanges between external and local actors that can be depicted in terms of mimicry. Multiple political locations of state-building notwithstanding, the task of bringing the imagined community into being is more suited to national actors. Ongoing challenges of nation- and state-building require more acknowledgement that the realization of the nation cannot be a primary domain of international actors.
Influence of Borders on Bilateral Ties in South Asia: A Study of Contemporary India–Nepal Relations
Authors: Tripathi Dhananjay
Published: June 2019

In South Asia, the movement of people and goods across borders is strictly controlled by states. However, there are some exceptions to these factors. India–Nepal border, for instance, is peaceful and porous with minimal restrictions on the movement of goods and people. Albeit there are times when border issues between these two friendly neighbours have taken a critical turn. One such recent border-related problem between India and Nepal was witnessed during the Madheshi movement. In 2015, an agitating section of the Madheshi community blocked the India–Nepal border. Due to the sociocultural proximity of Madheshi community with India, the blockade of the Indo-Nepal border has had repercussions on the bilateral ties. Conceptually, this article argues how border shapes relations between neighbours in South Asia. Empirically the recent blockade of the India–Nepal border is presented as an example to substantiate the primary argument of this article. There is also an attempt in this article to study the recent changes in the India–Nepal relations from the perspective of border studies.
Rethinking the Postwar Period in Spain: Violence and Irregular Civil War, 1939–52
Authors: Marco Jorge
Published: June 2019

There is a consensus among scholars regarding the slow transformation of ‘hot-blooded terror’ into ‘cold-blooded terror’ during the Civil War and the postwar period in Spain. This article challenges this framework in two ways. First, it argues that the Spanish Civil War did not end in 1939, but lasted until 1952, divided in three stages: symmetric nonconventional warfare (July 1936 – February 1937), conventional civil war (February 1937 – April 1939), and irregular civil war (April 1939–52). Second, it argues that the narrative of ‘cold-blooded terror’ after 1939 has obscured the complexity of the political violence imposed by the Franco dictatorship. The author argues that throughout the three stages of the Civil War the Francoists implemented a process of political cleansing, but that from April 1939 two different logics of violence were deployed. These depended on the attitude of the vanquished – resignation or resistance – after the defeat of the Republican army. The logic of violence directed against the subjugated enemy was channelled through institutional instruments. In contrast, the logic of counterinsurgency directed against the guerrilla movement, alongside instruments such as military courts and the prison system, imposed a wide repertoire of brutal practices and massacres against civilians and combatants.
Battered Woman Syndrome, Diminished Responsibility and Women Who Kill: Insights from Scottish Case Law
Authors: McPherson Rachel
Published: June 2019

Using Scotland as a case study, this article maps the development of Battered Woman Syndrome in law. It looks to the potential space for development that has been created by the recent case of Graham v HM Advocate, concluding that such a more would be an important step and one with significant implications for domestic abuse policy and the treatment of female accused more widely.
Third Dentition Is the Main Cause of Premolar Supernumerary Tooth Formation
Authors: Kiso H. , Takahashi K. , Mishima S. , Murashima-Suginami A. , Kakeno A. , Yamazaki T. , Asai K. , Tokita Y. , Uozumi R. , Sugai M. , Harada H. , Huang B. , MacDougall M. , Bessho K.
Published: June 2019

While the prevalence of supernumerary teeth (ST) is high in permanent dentition, the etiology of ST in humans remains unclear. However, multiple murine models of ST have elaborated on dated mechanisms traditionally ascribed to ST etiology: one involves the rescue of rudimental teeth, and the second considers the contribution of odontogenic epithelial stem cells. It remains unclear whether these mechanisms of ST formation in mice are applicable to humans. The third dentition is usually regressed apoptotic—that is, the teeth do not completely form in humans. Recently, it was suggested that ST result from the rescue of regression of the third dentition in humans. The present investigation evaluates the proportion of collected general ST cases that evinced a third dentition based on the clinical definition of ST derived from the third dentition. We also investigated the contribution of SOX2-positive odontogenic epithelial stem cells to ST formation in humans. We collected 215 general ST cases from 15,008 patients. We confirmed that the general characteristics of the collected ST cases were similar to the results from previous reports. Of the 215 cases, we narrowed our analysis to the 78 patients who had received a computed tomography scan. The frequency of ST considered to have been derived from the third dentition was 26 out of 78 cases. Evidence of a third dentition was especially apparent in the premolar region, was more common in men, and was more likely among patients with ≥3 ST. SOX2-positive odontogenic epithelial stem cells within the surrounding epithelial cells of developing ST were observed in non–third dentition cases and not in third dentition cases. In conclusion, the third dentition is the main cause of ST in humans. The odontogenic epithelial stem cells may contribute to ST formation in cases not caused by a third dentition.
Reasonable Parental and Medical Obligations in Pediatric Extraordinary Therapy
Authors: Pruski Michal , Gamble Nathan K.
Published: June 2019

The English cases of Charlie Gard and Alfie Evans involved a conflict between the desires of their parents to preserve their children’s lives and judgments of their medical teams in pursuit of clinically appropriate therapy. The treatment the children required was clearly extraordinary, including a wide array of advanced life-sustaining technological support. The cases exemplify a clash of worldviews rooted in different philosophies of life and medical care. The article highlights the differing perspectives on parental authority in medical care in England, Canada, and the United States. Furthermore, it proposes a solution that accommodates for both reasonable parental desires and professional medical opinion. This is achieved by looking at concepts of extraordinary therapy, best interest, reasonable parenthood and medical objections.

Summary: In cases where a child’s treatment involves extraordinary therapy, there is often a conflict of opinion between the medical team and the parents with regard to the best course of action. The assumption should be that responsible, caring parents make reasonable and acceptable decisions for the good of their children. Rather than focusing on making a hypothetical best interest judgment, courts should in the first instance side with the parents. Only when parents act unreasonably or malevolently should their wishes be overridden. This should not affect the medics' right to conscientiously object towards carrying out procedures that they deem to be medically unnecessary or harmful.
Transnational Migration and Digital Memorialization
Authors: Sultana Bipasha , Youngs-Zaleski Maya , Jiwani Yasmin
Published: June 2019

As digital outlets of expression become increasingly accessible, means of conveying grief and commemorating the deceased have migrated online. Online memorial websites such as UK-based Muchloved.com boasts thousands of Tributes created by the bereaved to remember the deceased. Many of these Tributes sketch out a rough picture of the person commemorated through text detailing their personal lives, professions, hobbies, and accomplishments, as well as photographs capturing intimate moments with family and community, and condolences contributed by family, friends, and community members. This article examines how stories of migration figure in this large pool of digital Tributes. We draw from Moncur and Kirk’s “emergent framework” for the study of digital memorials by analyzing 17 Tributes on MuchLoved.com, which commemorated individuals who, according to these Tributes, migrated from one nation to another. We find that the practices and conventions of memorial-writing to commemorate first-generation immigrants perpetuate narratives of exceptionality.
Metastatic seminoma with isolated gastric metastases: a case report
Authors: McLaren A , Baxter MA , Katbeh T , Lynch V , Fullarton G , White J
Published: June 2019

Gastric metastases are a rare occurrence in patients with malignancy. In case reports of these arising from germ cell tumours, the majority were non-seminomatous germ cell tumours and had evidence of retroperitoneal involvement. We present a unique case of a 67-year-old man with metastatic testicular pure seminoma. He presented with dyspepsia and investigation found isolated metastases to the gastric mucosa and sub-mucosa from a right testicular primary. No lymph node involvement was identified. The patient was managed with curative intent with total gastrectomy and inguinal orchidectomy. To date, there is no evidence of disease recurrence.
The Stickiness of Non-Religion? Intergenerational Transmission and the Formation of Non-Religious Identities in Childhood
Authors: Strhan Anna , Shillitoe Rachael
Published: June 2019

The rapid rise of those identifying as ‘non-religious’ across many countries has prompted growing interest in the ‘religious nones’. A now burgeoning literature has emerged, challenging the idea that ‘non-religion’ is the mere absence of religion and exploring the substantive beliefs, practices and identities that are associated with so-called unbelief. Yet we know little about the micro-processes through which this cultural shift towards non-religion is taking place. Drawing on data from an ethnographic study, this article examines how, when, where and with whom children learn to be non-religious, and considers the different factors that are implicated in the formation of non-religious identities. While research on religious transmission has demonstrated the importance of the family, our multi-sited approach reveals the important role also played by both school context and children’s own reflections in shaping their formation as non-religious, suggesting a complex pattern of how non-religious socialization is occurring in Britain today.
Brain signal changes of sensory cortex according to surface roughness of boneless corsets
Authors: Yuan Jie , Xu Changliang , Wang Qicai , Yu Weidong
Published: June 2019

The tactile perception of fabric surface properties in the brain has always been a major research issue in the study of the contact comfort of fabrics. This study introduced the concept of PSC (percent signal change) obtained by fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) technology to explore the perceptual brain regions concerned with the roughness of the fabric surface. Firstly, the PSCs of human somatosensory cortexes, including the SI (primary somatosensory cortex) and SII (secondary somatosensory cortex), under the stimulation of boneless corsets with different surface roughness, were extracted and analyzed. As the surface roughness of the fabric increased gradually from smooth to rough, the brain region in which the maximum PSC occurred gradually transited from the SI to the SII, which indicated that the SI brain region paid more attention to the contact of smooth fabrics, while the SII brain region laid emphasis on the fine tactile perception of rough fabrics. Furthermore, the result of sub-regions in the SI and SII showed that, with the increase of the roughness of the fabric surface, the PSC of the OP2 (Operculum Parietal 2) brain region increased significantly, and the brain region concerned with the fabric surface tactile stimulation was gradually transferred from the slow adaptive sensory projection Brain Area 3a in the SI to the fast adaptive sensory projection Brain Area 1 in the SI, and finally moved to OP2 in the deep cortex of the SII.
Determining effective bending stiffness of fabrics and other materials from tests involving an added weight
Authors: Plaut Raymond H
Published: June 2019

It is often desired to determine the bending stiffness of a fabric or other material. Some simple tests have been utilized for this purpose. The tests considered here involve a horizontal cantilever, vertical cantilever, hanging ring, heart loop and hanging pear loop. Usually a strip or loop of material is only subjected to its self-weight in these tests. In some cases, an additional weight is applied and causes greater deformation; this problem is analyzed here. In each test, the position of an extreme point is measured under the self-weight and applied load. Polynomial approximations are proposed to obtain the bending stiffness of the material.
New directions in evangelical Christianities
Authors: Forster Dion
Published: June 2019

This article presents an analysis of some contemporary trends and developments in evangelical theologies and movements. This is of importance to members of Christian groups, Christian leaders and academics, since we have seen how forms of evangelicalism have shifted political realities, split historical denominations and altered global perspectives on Christianities. The article argues that contemporary trends and developments in evangelical theologies are mediated in relation to shifts in, and challenges to, social identity construction and the social location of evangelicals. This claim is illustrated by explicating some more notable examples of how evangelical theologies, and evangelical identities, operate in contemporary public life. It is shown that evangelical theologies have developed in relation to changes in views on gender identities, political identities, multiculturalism and religious diversity. These are relatable, in some ways, to the effects of globalization and the proliferation of social media. The article concludes with a discussion of two possible outcomes for evangelical theologies and evangelicalism.
Thinking socially: why it matters
Authors: Cathie Sean
Published: June 2019

This article argues that a failure to draw on social and contextual perspectives, in both pastoral care and theological reflection, is behind failures in effective practice and theological reflection. This is demonstrated by reference to the clergy’s experience of pastoral care and some recent examples of theological reflection on the state of the Church today. Missing in both cases is reference to the social and contextual consequences of the catastrophic decline in church membership of the ‘long 1960s’. It is suggested that ignoring these factors reflects the impact of the decline.
In search of the Smart Citizen: Republican and cybernetic citizenship in the smart city
Authors: Zandbergen Dorien , Uitermark Justus
Published: June 2019

The smart city has been both celebrated for opening up decision-making processes through responsive digital infrastructures, and criticised for turning citizens into mere nodes of socio-technical networks under corporate or government control. In line with these depictions, smart city politics is often analysed as a struggle between aspirations for bottom-up participatory democracy and authoritarian control. Drawing on ethnographic research on an Amsterdam project which encourages citizens to collect and share air quality data, we problematise this vertical reading of smart city politics. The project mobilises both republican citizenship and cybernetic citizenship, each assuming different logics regarding the ways in which citizens negotiate urban life by means of data and sensing technologies. While republican citizenship emphasises citizens’ sovereignty, cybernetic citizenship emphasises their immersion into informational environments. We demonstrate how, depending on specific situated interests and forms of engagement, both kinds of citizenship feed into appealing visions of urban life for different actors.
Empowering Disadvantaged Communities in the UK: Missing the Potential of Co-production
Authors: Booth Jane
Published: June 2019

Co-production is a model of service delivery aimed at engaging disadvantaged communities to generate a more responsive approach to the design of local services. Such a shift implies the empowerment of disadvantaged communities, transforming them from ‘passive’ recipients of services to more active citizens. However, its potential to enhance citizenship in the UK is becoming lost in the political landscape of austerity and neoliberalism, with behaviour change being imposed on disadvantaged communities rather than enabled through a genuine sharing of power. If co-production is to fulfil its potential, it requires not only disadvantaged communities to engage but also a transformation of the paternalistic professional practices and institutional cultures that reproduce the power relationship between service users and service providers. Furthermore, without engaging citizens in ideological debate, making visible the systemic nature of inequalities, it is hard to see how co-production can bring about the social change it implies.
Universal Elementary Education in India: Barriers and Persistent Challenges
Authors: Thapa Rukmini , Sarkar Kaustav Kanti
Published: June 2019

Secondary data on school participation and completion highlight that dropping out from school before completing eight years of schooling continues to challenge the achievement of universal elementary education in India. Against the backdrop of high dropout rates at the primary and upper primary level, this article discusses the findings of a field survey conducted in 2008–2009 in a peripheral urban settlement in West Bengal. The same households were surveyed after five years in 2013. The purpose was to contextualise barriers to elementary education among poor children living in a socio-economically backward and low-income settlement. It was found that despite physical access to government schools, the dropout rate escalated with children’s age due to livelihood pressure at home and the double burden of household chores and income-generating work. This along with inadequate support from school made it challenging for children to complete elementary education.
Book review: Gautam Bhatia, Stories of Storeys: Art, Architecture and the City
Authors: Chatterjee Radhika
Published: June 2019

Gautam Bhatia, Stories of Storeys: Art, Architecture and the City. New Delhi, Yoda Press, 2018, 378 pp., ₹895, ISBN: 9789353280802 (Paperback).
Aging With a Physical Disability, Duration of Disability, and Life Satisfaction: A 5-Year Longitudinal Study Among People Aged 40 to 79 Years
Authors: Nicolaisen Magnhild , Strand Bjørn Heine , Thorsen Kirsten
Published: June 2019

Studies show that having physical disabilities is associated with lower life satisfaction (LS). People with disabilities have reduced opportunities and welfare compared with people without disabilities. During aging, disabilities may have different impact on LS. A question is whether disability duration plays a unique role by affecting LS or whether an association is caused by other factors. This study analyzed Norwegian panel data ( N = 2,555) including people aged 40 to 79 years at baseline to examine how disability and its duration affect LS at follow-up 5 years later, controlling for sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and health factors using ordinary least-squares regression. People with disabilities had lower LS than those without disabilities. Disability duration affected LS among people aged 40 to 49 years and 60 to 69 years, but the association was due to the lack of social, economic, and health resources. The meaning of duration of disability and challenges of reduced resources will vary with life stages.
Fractional order proportional derivative control for first order plus time delay plants: achieving phase and gain specifications simultaneously
Authors: Şenol Bilal , Demiroğlu Uğur
Published: June 2019

The aim of the method in this paper is to achieve desired gain and phase specifications for robustness and performance of first order plus time delay plants. The previously proposed method “frequency frame”, implemented for tuning fractional order proportional integral controllers, is applied on such plants controlled with a fractional order proportional derivative controller. Four specifications of gain and phase are considered in the Bode plot inspired from an ideal system. The frame is drawn enclosing the magnitude and phase curves limited by gain and phase crossover frequencies. Then, the size of the frame is tuned to provide loop-shaping of the curves to meet desired properties. The iso-damping property is achieved by shaping the phase curve. Similarly, numerous studies in the literature work on robustness achievement by loop shaping the phase curve of the Bode plot. However, the “frequency frame” approach is a new perspective in controller tuning. Two examples are illustratively given to prove the proposed method. Plants in the examples are also considered to be due to load disturbances. Simulation results and effects of the method are clearly explained.
Previous Surgery and Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Kezirian Eric J. , Heiser Clemens , Steffen Armin , Boon Maurits , Hofauer Benedikt , Doghramji Karl , Maurer Joachim T. , Sommer J. Ulrich , Soose Ryan J. , Schwab Richard , Thaler Erica , Withrow Kirk , Kominsky Alan , Larsen Christopher G. , Hsia Jennifer , Mehra Reena , Waters Tina , Strohl Kingman ,   ADHERE Registry Investigators
Published: June 2019

Objective

To examine whether previous palate or hypopharyngeal surgery was associated with efficacy of treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with hypoglossal nerve stimulation.

Study Design

Cohort (retrospective and prospective).

Setting

Eleven academic medical centers.

Subjects and Methods

Adults treated with hypoglossal nerve stimulation were enrolled in the ADHERE Registry. Outcomes were defined by the apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI), in 3 ways: change in the AHI and 2 definitions of therapy response requiring ≥50% reduction in the AHI to a level <20 events/h (Response20) or 15 events/h (Response15). Previous palate and hypopharyngeal (tongue, epiglottis, or maxillofacial) procedures were documented. Linear and logistic regression examined the association between previous palate or hypopharyngeal surgery and outcomes, with adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index.

Results

The majority (73%, 217 of 299) had no previous palate or hypopharyngeal surgery, while 25% and 9% had previous palate or hypopharyngeal surgery, respectively, including 6% with previous palate and hypopharyngeal surgery. Baseline AHI (36.0 ± 15.6 events/h) decreased to 12.0 ± 13.3 at therapy titration (P <. 001) and 11.4 ± 12.6 at final follow‐up (P <. 001). Any previous surgery, previous palate surgery, and previous hypopharyngeal surgery were not clearly associated with treatment response; for example, any previous surgery was associated with a 0.69 (95% CI: 0.37, 1.27) odds of response (Response20 measure) at therapy titration and a 0.55 (95% CI: 0.22, 1.34) odds of response (Response20 measure) at final follow‐up.

Conclusion

Previous upper airway surgery was not clearly associated with efficacy of hypoglossal nerve stimulation.
Sexual activism and ‘actually existing eroticism’: The politics of victimization and ‘lynching’ in Argentina
Authors: Pecheny Mario , Zaidan Luca , Lucaccini Mirna
Published: June 2019

Focusing on the case of Argentina, this text discusses two issues. The first refers to the tension between progress in feminist and LGBTIQ+ politics, on the one hand, and erotic-affective practices, that is, ‘actually existing eroticism,’ on the other hand. This tension is analyzed on two levels: first, through the construction of identities, theoretical perspectives, and political strategies in the sex-gender arena from a stance of victimization; and second, through examining new ‘normativities’ that resulted from the achievements by feminist and LGBTIQ+ movements in transforming their demands into laws and policies. The second issue calls attention to a particular form of political action: public shaming and what the authors refer to here as ‘lynching,’ which describes extreme methods of a sexual politics of victimization in a context of neoliberal governance.
The serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and the sleep-promoting effects of tryptophan: A randomized placebo-controlled crossover study
Authors: van Dalfsen Jens H , Markus C Rob
Published: June 2019

Background:

The low-expressive short (S) allele of a functional polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) within the serotonin (5-hydroxytriptamine; 5-HT) transporter gene (SLC6A4) has been associated with a reduced functioning of the brain 5-HT system relative to the long (L) allele. As a consequence, the S-allele is found to predispose individuals to a higher risk of sleep quality reduction and clinical insomnia.

Aims:

The present study investigated whether subchronic pre-sleep tryptophan administration could compensate for this predisposition by improving sleep in 5-HTTLPR S-allele carriers.

Methods:

In a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design a sample of homozygous 5-HTTLPR S-allele ( n = 47) and L-allele ( n = 51) carriers were assessed for subjective (sleep diary) and objective (actigraphy) sleep during a treatment protocol consisting of 1 week of placebo (1000 mg/day) and 1 week of tryptophan administration (1000 mg/day).

Results:

The results support the sleep-promoting effects of tryptophan. Tryptophan improved objective sleep efficiency and objective wake after sleep onset irrespective of allelic variation. There was a marginally significant improvement of subjective sleep quality in the 5-HTTLPR S-allele group but not in the L-allele group following tryptophan relative to placebo intake. In contrast, a significantly poorer sleep quality in the S-allele as opposed to the L-allele group in the placebo condition was not observed in the tryptophan condition.

Conclusions:

Tryptophan augmentation promises to be a valuable treatment strategy for sleep impairments related to genetic deficiencies in 5-HT functioning.
The effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on low-frequency activity and functional connectivity in the brain of adults with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Authors: Pretzsch Charlotte M , Voinescu Bogdan , Mendez Maria A , Wichers Robert , Ajram Laura , Ivin Glynis , Heasman Martin , Williams Steven , Murphy Declan GM , Daly Eileen , McAlonan Gráinne M
Published: June 2019

Background:

The potential benefits of cannabis and its major non-intoxicating component cannabidiol (CBD) are attracting attention, including as a potential treatment in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the neural action of CBD, and its relevance to ASD, remains unclear. We and others have previously shown that response to drug challenge can be measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but that pharmacological responsivity is atypical in ASD.

Aims:

We hypothesized that there would be a (different) fMRI response to CBD in ASD.

Methods:

To test this, task-free fMRI was acquired in 34 healthy men (half with ASD) following oral administration of 600 mg CBD or matched placebo (random order; double-blind administration). The ‘fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations’ (fALFF) was measured across the whole brain, and, where CBD significantly altered fALFF, we tested if functional connectivity (FC) of those regions was also affected by CBD.

Results:

CBD significantly increased fALFF in the cerebellar vermis and the right fusiform gyrus. However, post-hoc within-group analyses revealed that this effect was primarily driven by the ASD group, with no significant change in controls. Within the ASD group only, CBD also significantly altered vermal FC with several of its subcortical (striatal) and cortical targets, but did not affect fusiform FC with other regions in either group.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that, especially in ASD, CBD alters regional fALFF and FC in/between regions consistently implicated in ASD. Future studies should examine if this affects the complex behaviours these regions modulate.
Inter-alpha inhibitor proteins attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced blood–brain barrier disruption and downregulate circulating interleukin 6 in mice
Authors: Logsdon Aric F , Erickson Michelle A , Chen Xiaodi , Qiu Joseph , Lim Yow-Pin , Stonestreet Barbara S , Banks William A
Published: June 2019

Circulating levels of inter-alpha inhibitor proteins change dramatically in acute inflammatory disorders, which suggest an important contribution to the immunomodulatory system. Human blood-derived inter-alpha inhibitor proteins are neuroprotective and improve survival of neonatal mice exposed to lipopolysaccharide. Lipopolysaccharide augments inflammatory conditions and disrupts the blood–brain barrier. There is a paucity of therapeutic strategies to treat blood–brain barrier dysfunction, and the neuroprotective effects of human blood-derived inter-alpha inhibitor proteins are not fully understood. To examine the therapeutic potential of inter-alpha inhibitor proteins, we administered human blood-derived inter-alpha inhibitor proteins to male and female CD-1 mice after lipopolysaccharide exposure and quantified blood–brain barrier permeability of intravenously injected 14C-sucrose and 99mTc-albumin. We hypothesized that human blood-derived inter-alpha inhibitor protein treatment would attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced blood–brain barrier disruption and associated inflammation. Lipopolysaccharide increased blood–brain barrier permeability to both 14C-sucrose and 99mTc-albumin, but human blood-derived inter-alpha inhibitor protein treatment only attenuated increases in 14C-sucrose blood–brain barrier permeability in male mice. Lipopolysaccharide stimulated a more robust elevation of male serum inter-alpha inhibitor protein concentration compared to the elevation measured in female serum. Lipopolysaccharide administration also increased multiple inflammatory factors in serum and brain tissue, including interleukin 6. Human blood-derived inter-alpha inhibitor protein treatment downregulated serum interleukin 6 levels, which were inversely correlated with serum inter-alpha inhibitor protein concentration. We conclude that inter-alpha inhibitor proteins may be neuroprotective through mechanisms of blood–brain barrier disruption associated with systemic inflammation.
Prevalence of triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries in patients with distal radius fractures: a 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Yan Bingshan , Xu Zhaoning , Chen Yanchao , Yin Wangping
Published: June 2019

Objective

This study was performed to determine the prevalence of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries as shown by 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with distal radius fractures.

Methods

In total, 57 patients with distal radius fractures underwent 3.0T MRI examinations to observe the incidence of TFCC injuries after manual reduction and cast fixation. The fracture type was categorized by the AO classiﬁcation, and the TFCC injury pattern was evaluated using the Palmer classiﬁcation. The correlation between the location of the TFCC injury and the distal radius fracture pattern, distal radioulnar joint instability, or ulnar styloid fracture was analyzed.

Results

Fifty-five TFCC injuries were diagnosed. There was no significant relationship between the TFCC injury pattern and the type of distal radius fracture, distal radioulnar joint instability, or ulnar styloid fracture.

Conclusions

This study revealed a high prevalence of TFCC injuries in patients with distal radius fractures. The 3.0T MRI examination helps to assess TFCC injuries in patients with distal radius fractures.

Clinical Trial Registration

ChiCTR1800017101.
Biological events related to corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics
Authors: Feller Liviu , Khammissa Razia A.G. , Siebold Andreas , Hugo Andre , Lemmer Johan
Published: June 2019

Corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics is a clinical treatment modality comprising the application of conventional orthodontic forces combined with selective decortication of the alveolar process of the bone, which generates a localized process of bone remodeling (turnover) that enables accelerated orthodontic tooth movement. Compared with conventional orthodontic treatment, corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics is associated with reduced treatment time and reduces the frequency of apical external root resorption; however, this modality increases morbidity and financial costs. Although the clinical outcomes of corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics appear favorable, no results of evidence-based investigations of long-term outcomes are available in the literature, and the long-term effects of corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics on the teeth and periodontium are unclear. This narrative review discusses the biological events associated with corticotomy-facilitated orthodontics. Authoritative articles found in relevant databases were critically analyzed and the findings were integrated and incorporated in the text.
Reassessing Turkey’s Soft Power: The Rules of Attraction
Authors: Çevik Senem B.
Published: June 2019

Since the mid-2000s, Turkey has incorporated a soft power discourse into its foreign policy agenda and shifted its attention toward building up its soft power infrastructure. Up until 2013, Turkey was applauded as a regional powerhouse, an important player in the soft power arena, and a beacon of democracy and stability within an unstable region. However, the restrictions on free speech, media censorship, and the crackdown on the opposition have impacted Turkey’s current soft power ranking. While expanding its diplomatic network and public diplomacy apparatus to wield soft power, Turkey’s global reputation has seen a downward spiral. This article investigates the role that political leadership and political values play in determining Turkey’s soft power capacity. This article’s main contention is that while Turkey increases its global engagement and capacity to appeal non-Western audiences, its capacity to attract international audiences particularly in the West has diminished due to its democratic backsliding.
Decoupling in International Business
Authors: Mandrinos Symeon , Mahdi Nik Malini Nik , Lin Constance Liew Sat
Published: June 2019

Following the academic discourses that the International Business (IB) has not yet seen the levels of academic intrusions on decoupling a thorny ethical dilemma evident in other fields that explains why organizations when strive for conformity, they may attempt to preclude the necessity of their formal structure with an intention to show obedience towards institutional settings while at the same time actually practicing business in ways that they believe are more efficient. This study attempts to bridge this important gap and understanding of decoupling in the burgeoning stream of IB where export organizations decouple from the actual substantive conformity to the Intellectual Property Rights and the Protected Designation of Origin certification requirements. This policy to practice decoupling in the form of avoidance from institutional pressures and concealment manifest itself in the organizations zeal to placate the pressures of resource criticalities brought about by this unique isomorphic setting of the home and host country institutional landscape(s). Thus theoretically, tight coupling between institutional rules (and pressures) and export organizations does not necessarily translate from form to function but rather ceremonial conformity, which may further be heightened by onward problems of enforcement of these rules in the same institutional settings therein.
Environmental turbulence and the role of business functions in the manufacturing strategy debate: The case of UK-based SMEs and the Great Recession
Authors: Sainidis Eustathios , Robson Andrew , Heron Graeme
Published: June 2019

This study provides an empirical assessment of the United Kingdom (UK) manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector, exploring the impact of environmental turbulence specific to the post–Great Recession (2008) era on changes to the way manufacturing strategy is formulated and implemented. The study identifies changes to the frequency, fluidity, formality and focus of manufacturing strategy review and how the various business functions play a changing role in contributing to this strategic process. A mixed-methods research approach is applied, incorporating a survey of 104 UK-based manufacturing SMEs supported by 17 in-depth interviews with senior managers. The research uses a parallel mixed analysis of the two data sources, thereby offering an alternative to the mono-quantitative approaches to manufacturing research that have dominated. The findings show that during, and emerging from, the post–Great Recession environment, the majority of manufacturing SMEs employ a fluid, highly frequent approach to manufacturing strategy review with increasing contributions from their marketing, sales and finance business functions driven predominantly by function-specific response to changes in the external environment, although internal drivers sill influence high-level strategy, finance and human resources. The implications of the study to theory, practice and general management suggest that the MSME sector is dominated by organizations experiencing continual impact from the external environment.
The determinants and performance consequences of CEO strategic advice seeking
Authors: Vestal Alex , Guidice Rebecca
Published: June 2019

Leveraging insights from research on strategic leadership, this article theorizes that CEOs’ personal characteristics predict the extent to which CEOs seek strategic advice from executives at other organizations. Further, seeking strategic advice from executives at other organizations is argued to improve organizational performance. The hypotheses are tested with survey data from 287 CEOs of nonprofit agencies in Florida and archival data on organizational performance. Results indicate that CEOs with longer organizational tenure and a higher need for cognitive closure (NFCC) seek less advice from executives at other organizations. Results also show that organizations with CEOs that seek more strategic advice have better performance. These findings contribute to the strategic leadership literature in two general ways. First, through the lens of upper echelons theory, the study highlights three attributes of CEOs that help to explain their advice-seeking behavior: CEO age, CEO organizational tenure, and CEO NFCC. Second, grounded in network theory, the study draws attention to the beneficial effect of CEO advice seeking on organizational performance (i.e. growth in financial donations).