bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new black fly species of Simulium (Gomphostilbia) (Diptera: Simuliidae)
from Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: TAKAOKA HIROYUKI , SOFIAN-AZIRUN MOHD , CHEN CHEE DHANG , HALIM MUHAMMAD RASUL ABDULLAH , LAU KOON WENG , LOW VAN LUN , SUANA I. WAYAN
Published: August 2019

Simulium (Gomphostilbia) marosense sp. nov. is described based on adults, pupae and mature larvae from Sulawesi, Indonesia. This new species is placed in the Simulium duolongum subgroup of the S. batoense species-group, representing the ninth member for the subgroup in Sulawesi. This new species is characterized by a narrow female frons and pupal gill with eight filaments, of which two filaments of the ventral pair are 1.9–3.0 times as long as the six other filaments. Taxonomic notes are provided to distinguish this new species from related species.
Perlodinella mazehaoi sp. nov., a new species of Perlodidae (Plecoptera) from Inner Mongolia of China
Authors: CHEN ZHI-TENG
Published: August 2019

A new species of the perlodid genus Perlodinella Klapálek, 1912, P. mazehaoi sp. nov. from Inner Mongolia of northeastern China is described and illustrated based on the male, the female and eggs. The aedeagus and egg described herein are the first known for the genus Perlodinella. Morphological comparisons between the new species and congeners are given. This species is the first record of Perlodinella from Inner Mongolia.
On the status of Suifunema peregrinatum (Carreno, 2017) n. comb. (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatidae) and first record of the species for Japan
Authors: MORFFE JANS , CARRENO RAMON A. , OZAWA SOTA , SRIWATI RINA , HASEGAWA KOICHI
Published: August 2019

Blattophila peregrinata Carreno, 2017 (Nematoda: Oxyuridomorpha: Thelastomatidae) is proposed as a junior synonym of Suifunema peregrinatum (Carreno, 2017) n. comb., based on the revision of the type material of S. caudelli Chitwood, 1932, the type and only species of the genus. The revision permitted the emendation of some features of the original descriptions, namely the position of the nerve ring at level of the corpus instead the isthmus and the female genital tract didelphic-prodelphic instead didelphic-amphidelphic. The males of S. peregrinatum n. comb. are the only ones known for the genus. Thus, an amended generic diagnosis is given, including information on the males. Both S. peregrinatum n. comb. and S. caudelli differ by having a more slender body, a longer tail, and the vulva farther from the anterior end in the former. S. peregrinatum n. comb. is recorded for the first time from Pycnoscelus indicus Fabricius, 1775 (Blattodea: Blaberidae) from Japan. The specimens from Japan are morphologically consistent with other populations of the species from the USA and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. Only some morphometrics vary slightly, but these are within the range of the species. The phylogenetic position of the genus among the family Thelastomatidae is discussed, including sequences of the D2-D3 LSU rDNA of specimens from both the type population (Ohio, USA) and Japan.
New Teachers’ Perceptions on Being Prepared to Teach Students With Learning Disabilities: Insights From California
Authors: Gottfried Michael A. , Hutt Ethan L. , Kirksey J. Jacob
Published: August 2019

Including students with learning disabilities (SWLDs) in general education classrooms is a priority nationwide. Consequently, now more than ever before in our nation’s history, university teacher education programs face increased responsibility to ensure general education teaching candidates receive adequate preparation to educate SWLDs. Many stakeholders believe that edTPA—a performance assessment used as a credential requirement—can be an important tool in helping to fulfill this goal. Utilizing survey data from a large, research university, the authors investigated how perceptions of preparation programs, including edTPA, related to general education teacher candidates’ perceptions of their preparation for educating SWLDs. Candidates reported feeling more prepared for disability policies if they believed their program was cohesive in its goals and expectations. Candidates who rated edTPA as beneficial for entering the teaching profession also believed that edTPA improved their abilities to educate SWLDs.
Response to ‘The Aadhaar debate: Where are the sociologists?’
Authors: Rao Ursula
Published: August 2019

At this historical juncture, when digital governance is fundamentally re-forming social relations, we need critical knowledge about the emerging texture of society. This text responds to Reetika Khera’s important intervention about the need for more timely studies of Aadhaar. Building on Angelia Chamuah’s and Lawrence Cohen’s comments, I argue for the need to ask broader questions about the changing character of the political as it emerges in the Aadhaar arena. Today, states respond to the world’s dizzying complexity by inventing new experimental solutions, many of which utilise digital technologies, and often rather than deliver solutions, create new pathways for learning through critical engagement. Aadhaar is a case in point. In their studies, scholars should remain attuned to the open-endedness of the Aadhaar infrastructure and understand its experimental ethos. This would generate knowledge about processes of iterative learning and lead to conclusions about the role of feedback-loops for the evolution of digital governance. From there one can conclude about systems of value, social hierarchy, or justice and fairness that organise the processes of adapting a new infrastructure to multiple social contexts.
Dyadic perceptions of depression and anxiety in romantic relationships
Authors: Schnapp Jacqueline E. , O’Neal Danielle N. , Vaughn Allison A.
Published: August 2019

This study investigated dyadic perceptions of the causes of mental health symptoms within dating couples. We tested the extent to which a participant’s beliefs about their romantic partner’s attributions about mental health were accurate and/or biased and the extent to which causal attributions about mental health predicted relationship quality. Ninety-four dyads ( N = 188) reported on biological and psychological causes of mental health symptoms and relationship conflict and support. Consistent with hypotheses, the actor–partner interdependence model revealed more bias than accuracy in perceptions of the causes of mental health symptoms. Results also showed more effects of causal attributions on relationship quality for the romantic partner than for the participant with symptoms and more effects of controllable psychological causes on relationship quality relative to uncontrollable psychological or any biological causes. While relationship quality was generally positive, endorsement of most causes of mental health symptoms predicted higher conflict and lower support. These accuracy and bias effects as well as the effects on the romantic partner affirm the importance of studying both members of the romantic relationship because they would have been missed completely if only studying the participant with mental health symptoms. In terms of clinical practice, working with couples whose attributions align might look differently than working with couples who are not so aligned.
Tanshinone IIA ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through targeting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and toll-like receptor 4
Authors: Huang Lu , Ding Wei , Wang Ming-Qiang , Wang Zheng-Gen , Chen Hong-Hui , Chen Wen , Yang Qiong , Lu Ting-Na , Yang Qing , He Ji-Man
Published: August 2019

Objective

To investigate the cellular mechanisms of action of tanshinone IIA on the fatty liver disease induced by a high-fat diet in an animal model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into one of three groups: regular rat diet (CON group) for 4 months; high-fat diet (HFD group) for 4 months; HFD for 2 months followed by tanshinone IIA treatment plus HFD (TAN group) for a further 2 months. A range of physical and biochemical markers of lipid accumulation and fatty liver disease were measured and compared between the groups.

Results

Tanshinone IIA treatment significantly reduced fat accumulation in the liver and plasma lipid levels that had been increased by HFD. The toll-like receptor (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway was silenced by tanshinone IIA treatment. Tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 were reduced by tanshinone IIA. Hepatocyte apoptosis was inhibited by tanshinone IIA. Tanshinone IIA upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), which resulted in an improvement in the oxidative status.

Conclusion

Tanshinone IIA ameliorates NAFLD by targeting PPAR-γ and TLR4, resulting in decreased plasma lipids and oxidative stress, suggesting this strategy may form the basis of novel NAFLD therapies.
Double-pedicle propeller flap for reconstruction of the foot and ankle: anatomical study and clinical applications
Authors: Zheng Jianxiong , Liao Hua , Li Jie , Zhuo Lingjian , Ren Gaohong , Zhang Ping , Hu Jijie
Published: August 2019

Objective

Reconstruction of soft tissue defects in the foot and ankle remains challenging. This study was performed to investigate the technical points and clinical effects of a double-pedicle propeller flap for repair of foot and ankle soft tissue defects.

Methods

We used five fresh calf specimens to investigate the anatomical and operative aspects of a double-pedicle propeller flap. Eighteen patients with soft tissue defects in the foot and ankle subsequently underwent defect repair with double-pedicle propeller flaps.

Results

The anatomical study showed that the peroneal artery perforators and the sural nerve bundle (two blood supply systems) provided the theoretical anatomical basis for the double-pedicle propeller flap. The relative positions of the peroneal artery perforators and the sural nerve bundle differ according to the peroneal artery perforating level. Flap rotation in different directions can reduce or prevent the pedicles from compressing each other. All flaps survived, and three flaps developed local epidermal necrosis at the proximal end; these flaps healed after 1 to 2 weeks of dressing changes. The other 15 patients healed well.

Conclusions

The double-pedicle propeller flap can enhance the blood supply and venous return in the “big paddle” region of the flap, reducing the distal necrosis rate.
Minimally invasive treatment of an ectopic kidney stone: a case report and literature review
Authors: Wang Chenglu , Jin Lu , Zhao Xinyang , Li Guobin , Xue Boxin
Published: August 2019

An ectopic pelvic kidney is a rare congenital anomaly with a high incidence of complications such as reflux, hydronephrosis, nephrolithiasis, and even renal failure. We herein report a case of transperitoneal laparoscopic pyelolithotomy for treatment of a left pelvic kidney stone and discuss various surgical procedures based on the published literature. A 64-year-old woman presented to our hospital with generalized weakness and occasional nonspecific waist pain in October 2017. Computed tomography showed a 2.6-cm renal pelvis stone located in the left ectopic pelvic kidney with severe hydronephrosis. The patient underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic pyelolithotomy and was discharged 7 days after surgery. Various treatment procedures are available for ectopic kidney stones. Proper preoperative assessment and selection of the most suitable surgical procedure play critical roles in successful treatment.
Armed Conflict, Intimate Partner Violence, and Mental Distress of Women in Northeastern Uganda: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Mootz Jennifer J. , Muhanguzi Florence , Greenfield Brenna , Gill Meghan , Gonzalez Miigis B. , Panko Pavel , Mangen Patrick Onyango , Wainberg Milton L. , Khoshnood Kaveh
Published: August 2019

As global mental health research and programming proliferate, research that prioritizes women’s voices and examines marginalized women’s mental health outcomes in relation to exposure to violence at community and relational levels of the socioecological model is needed. In a mixed methods, transnational study, we examined armed conflict exposure, intimate partner violence (IPV), and depressive symptoms among 605 women in Northeastern Uganda. We used analysis of variance to test between groups of women who had experienced no IPV or armed conflict, IPV only, armed conflict only, and both; and linear regression to predict depressive symptoms. We used rapid ethnographic methods with a subsample ( n = 21) to identify problem prioritization; and, to characterize women’s mental health experiences, we conducted follow up in-depth interviews ( n = 15), which we analyzed with grounded theory methods. Thirty percent of the sample met the cut-off for probable major depressive disorder; women exposed to both IPV and armed conflict had significantly higher rates of depression than all other groups. While women attributed psychological symptoms primarily to IPV exposure, both past-year IPV and exposure to armed conflict were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Women identified socioeconomic neglect as having the most impact and described three interrelated mental health experiences that contribute to thoughts of escape, including escape through suicide. Policy efforts should be interprofessional, and specialists should collaborate to advance multi-pronged interventions and gender-informed implementation strategies for women’s wellbeing. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/0361684319864366
Blending organic material with municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash to promote in-situ carbonation in road base
Authors: Asal Sinan , Laux Steven J , McVay Michael C , Townsend Timothy G
Published: August 2019

The use of municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash for road-base construction is an accepted practice in Europe and Asia, and of growing interest in the US. It is common practice to cure bottom ash by stockpiling it for several weeks before using it in this application. The curing process exposes the bottom ash to atmospheric carbon dioxide, which promotes carbonation, lowering its pH (making it less alkaline), and making many heavy metals less soluble. While this process makes bottom ash a more environmentally acceptable material, it takes time and requires additional handling. This article investigates a concept to facilitate carbonation of bottom ash in its compacted state, potentially eliminating the stockpile curing process. It is demonstrated here that blending a small amount of organic material with bottom ash will accelerate carbonation and lower pH in compacted samples by providing a carbon source for bacteria to produce carbon dioxide. Different quantities of biosolids (1%, 2%, 3%, and 5% by mass) were added to compacted bottom ash samples to examine the effect of organic materials on carbonation, and results were compared with a compacted control bottom ash sample. The pH of the control bottom ash sample decreased from 12.07 to 9.78 after 63 days, while the pH of the sample containing 5% biosolids decreased from 11.70 to 9.74 in only 7 days and to 8.18 after 63 days. Physical testing was conducted to examine suitability for beneficial use. The results indicate that bottom ash containing less than 3% biosolids met minimum bearing strength requirements for road base.
The psychosocial management of rights restitution: Tracing technologies for reparation in post-conflict Colombia
Authors: Mora-Gámez Fredy , Brown Steven D.
Published: August 2019

Psychosocial assistance is a crucial aspect of recent state reparation and human rights restitution policies in post-conflict Colombia. Drawing on the methodological tools offered by Science and Technology Studies (STS), we follow the trajectories of a psychosocial protocol for emotional recovery as a technology of reparation deployed in rural communities between 2013 and 2017. We ethnographically describe how psychological and administrative projects are merged in practice and come to shape practices and emotional self-valuations. Building on Serres’ concept of betrayal, we reflect on the potential contours of quantifications embedded in psychosocial assistance as opportunities for different forms of reparation to emerge. These forms of reparation coexist in intertwined epistemic practices of psychosocial assistance. We claim that a potentially alternative form of reparation arises despite the predominance of an administrative design mainly concerned with quantification and efficient policy management.
Information Sources and the Tourism Decision-making Process: An Examination of Generation X and Generation Y Consumers
Authors: Reisenwitz Timothy H. , Fowler Jie G.
Published: August 2019

Generation Y (Gen Y) is becoming more important to marketers as its members continue to enter the workforce. Members of this generational cohort are essential to the tourism industry as they engage in planning vacations themselves. This study accesses the information search behaviour of Gen Y and makes comparisons to the previous generation, Generation X (Gen X). A demographic profile, including information sources, is compiled. Additionally, several proposals were developed based upon the literature regarding tourism information searches and decision-making for Gen X and Y. Key constructs were identified as part of the purchase decision process. They were analysed using primary research study data. Specifically, independent-samples t-tests were used to test the propositions. The analyses revealed that there were significant differences between generational cohorts regarding technology-based information sources, risk aversion and use of information sources. As a result, this study offers a synthesis of contingency factors affecting tourist decision-making. It provides both theoretical and managerial implications.
Brand Positioning Using Multidimensional Scaling Technique: An Application to Herbal Healthcare Brands in Indian Market
Authors: Adlakha Kanupriya , Sharma Sanjeev
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this article is to identify significant differences in the positioning of brands in the segment of herbal healthcare in Indian market by multidimensional scaling (MDS) method. The herbal healthcare market is an ever-growing segment of the healthcare market, due to the increasing trend towards self-medication and inclination to the use of natural products. The research presents insights into the importance of marketing attributes which influence the consumer perception of this segment. The study was conducted in North India using a structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. A derived approach to MDS was used in which consumer perception ratings of selected brands on various marketing attributes were done. These nine attributes were identified and itemized from the review of literature and pre-tests as per their importance to consumer. Factor analysis deduced important marketing dimensions from these nine attributes namely product quality (PQ), brand effect (BE) and price affordability (PA). MDS was used to map the perception of selected brands, drawing two-dimensional maps. The brands selected were on the basis of a pre-test which identified the most commonly used brands in the segment as Dabur, Himalaya, Zandu, Patanjali and Hamdard. The results indicate that Dabur and Himalaya are positioned higher than Zandu, Patanjali and Hamdard in the minds of the consumers on quality and BE, with both occupying a strong positive quality and brand image perception. Hamdard had a high BE, but low-quality perception, and Zandu reported a near neutral perception on all the marketing dimensions. Patanjali has a higher PA perception in comparison to the other brands, however, the segment of herbal healthcare was found to be price tolerant. Finally, the article presents conclusions and important managerial implications with the scope of further research and directions.
Food Entrepreneurship Among Immigrant Nigerians in Durban, KwaZulu Natal
Authors: Jagganath Gerelene
Published: August 2019

Anthropologists recognize that food eaten not only sustains the body but also affects and is affected by the social, economic, and political world in which it is selected, prepared, and consumed ( Appadurai, 1981 ; Bourdieu, 1984 ; Van der Veen, 2003 ). The consumption of food, in particular, is integral to the creation and negotiation of social identities and relationships, particularly within the context of migration and diaspora. This article is based on a study of 8 Nigerian immigrant entrepreneurs in the informal and small enterprise economy in the city of Durban in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The ethnographic study uses narratives around the business of food (cooking, selling, and catering) as a lens through which it attempts to understand the perceptions, activities, experiences, and challenges immigrant entrepreneurs’ face in adapting and integrating into South African society. Part of the adjustment that immigrants’ encounter includes adopting new ingredients and cuisines into their diet because familiar or traditional foodstuffs from the homeland are not available in the new context. It is within this scarcity of accessing Nigerian food that the women in the sample have found a niche in which to survive and empower themselves in Durban. By relating their experiences of cooking, selling, and distributing traditional Nigerian food and groceries, the embodied experience of immigrant entrepreneurial activity is explored. The small sample consists mainly of female Nigerian immigrants and a few male immigrants who hail from different regional, educational, and migration backgrounds. The article contextualizes the food entrepreneurs within the larger context of a tense local climate of xenophobia which has impacted immigrant business trade and the growing negative sentiment that immigrants from countries to the north of South African borders are usurping South Africans’ job opportunities. Through in-depth interviews and participant observation, the voices of the participants are foregrounded to provide some insight into the foodways and food enterprises of a group of Nigerian immigrants living in Durban.
Wage–Productivity Relationship in Indian Manufacturing Industries: Evidences from State-level Panel Data
Authors: Jain Hansa
Published: August 2019

Indian manufacturing industries have experienced the major effects of economic reforms. Since the effect of any policy is ultimately transferred to workers, this article is an attempt to determine the extent to which labour productivity and wages are inter-related in manufacturing industries. The study uses state-level panel data of manufacturing industries and empirically tests the relevance of marginal productivity theory of wages and efficiency wage theory. After confirming the stationarity of the series, various empirical tests such as cointegration, vector error correction mechanism and Granger causality are applied to check the long-run equilibrium relationship between wage growth and productivity growth.

The study finds a divergence between wages and productivity in India as well as in the states. The empirical analysis confirms the existence of long-run relationship between the two variables and finds efficiency wage theory to be more appropriate as its long-term disequilibrium correcting process is quicker as compared to the marginal productivity theory. The study suggests for having a skill intensity matching with capital intensity. Appropriate level of skill and training among the workers will, on the one hand, increase their bargaining strength for more compensation, and on the other hand, will encourage them to produce more.

JEL: J31, J24, O30, F66, L66
Preliminary Experience With Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Implant for Pathology of the Second Metatarsal Head
Authors: Glazebrook Mark , Morash Joel , Alhadhoud Meshal , Daniels Timothy R.
Published: August 2019

Background:

There is no consensus regarding which surgical technique is most beneficial for pathology of the second metatarsophalangeal joint. We report the use of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel synthetic cartilage implant hemiarthroplasty for pathology of the second metatarsal head that has failed nonoperative treatment and present 5 cases with a minimum 15 months of follow-up.

Methods:

The technique for synthetic cartilage hemiarthroplasty of the second metatarsal head is described. The postoperative protocol included weightbearing as tolerated for 2 weeks and moderate limitations in activities of daily living to respect wound healing, followed by physiotherapy for range of motion exercises. Charts for patients who underwent this procedure between 2015 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Outcome measures collected postoperatively included a pain visual analog scale, Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores, and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) Sports and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) current level of function percentages.

Results:

At 15 to 38 months of follow-up, patients reported little to no pain and good range of motion, with no complications. Mean outcome measure scores were 89 for FAAM ADL, 75 for FAAM Sports, 44.4 for SF-36 PCS, and 52.1 for SF-36 MCS.

Conclusion:

This preliminary study of synthetic cartilage hemiarthroplasty for treatment of joint-destructive conditions of the second metatarsal head demonstrated good outcomes and no complications in 5 cases at a mean 25 months of follow-up. Large prospective cohort studies are needed to prove the efficacy and safety of this new surgical technique for the treatment of pathology of the second metatarsal head.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, retrospective case series.
Tackling Rape Culture in Québec Universities: A Network of Feminist Resistance
Authors: Ricci Sandrine , Bergeron Manon
Published: August 2019

Québec university communities are facing intensified pressure to address the incidence of sexual violence on campus. The ESSIMU ( Enquête Sexualité, Sécurité et Interactions en Milieu Universitaire) survey (2016) revealed that one third of respondents (students and employees from six universities, all genders combined) reported having experienced at least one form of sexual violence since arriving at university, committed by someone affiliated with the same university. As the issue is becoming increasingly institutionalized, a process that often erodes activism, this article highlights the role feminist activism has played in placing sexual violence on university campuses on the political agenda. From the dual perspective of feminist activists and researchers on the ESSIMU team, the article explores the backdrop of this mobilization, and the network of feminist resistance that fostered the ESSIMU study, itself a significant contribution to the increased recognition of sexual violence in universities. It also considers the role of university and government institutions in (re)producing such violence and the role of media in making it a public issue.
Early cannulation of the Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft
Authors: Vowels Travis J , Mohamed Ahmed , Bennett Matthew E , Peden Eric K
Published: August 2019

Objective:

In complex dialysis patients, central venous stenosis may preclude additional upper extremity access options. The Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft (Merit Medical Systems, Inc.) can bypass this stenosis providing patients with an additional upper extremity long-term access option. We report our experience with early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts and compare them to traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft placement from 1 January 2013 through 15 August 2017 at our institution and compared those undergoing placement of traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts and simultaneous tunneled dialysis catheter insertion to those undergoing Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft placement using an early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft without a tunneled dialysis catheter.

Results:

A total of 88 patients had 98 Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts inserted throughout this time period. Of these, 61 (62%) were early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts, while 37 (38%) were traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts. Primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency rates at 1 year were higher for the traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow graft cohort (53.1% vs 25.2%, p < 0.01; 70.1% vs 30.5%, p < 0.01; and 80.4% vs 55.4%, p = 0.07, respectively). There was no difference in the rate of postoperative hematoma, seroma, pseudoaneurysm formation, steal syndrome, or overall graft thrombosis between the two cohorts. Early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts required earlier reintervention for thrombosis and earlier reintervention for any cause when compared to traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts (146 ± 184 days vs 417 ± 272 days, p < 0.01, and 123 ± 169 days vs 401 ± 311 days, p < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion:

In complex dialysis patients, early-cannulation Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts have significantly lower 1-year primary and primary-assisted patency rates and require earlier reintervention to maintain this patency compared to traditional Hemodialysis Reliable Outflow grafts.
Dionysus meets neoliberalism: Zumba® Fitness and the call to Zorbitality
Authors: Sadlier Aoife
Published: August 2019

In the 21st century, asexuality has become synonymous with sexual orientation, being described as a ‘lack’ of sexual attraction. This definition is problematic, as it assumes that everybody is sexual and that sexuality is immutable. With the rise of a postfeminist culture, the lived experiences of asexual-identified women are in danger of being lost within static narratives of frigidity and singledom. In response, this article proposes an emergent concept for reconfiguring female (a)sexualities through collective ecstatic motion – Zorbitality – drawing on the global Latin dance fitness phenomenon, Zumba® Fitness, as a central example. I firstly conceptualise Zorbitality, via Csikszentmihalyi’s theory of ‘flow’ and Deleuze and Guattari’s ‘rhizome’. Secondly, I examine the emergence of Zumba® Fitness as a contemporary Dionysian rite, mediated by digital culture, capitalism and globalisation, through my insights from the ZIN™ Academy and Believe party (London, July 2015) and work as a Zumba® Fitness instructor. Finally, I conceptualise Zumba® as (i) an asexual space, (ii) a celebration of the autoerotic body and (iii) an invocation of West African collective movement rites. Zorbitality emerges as a resistant imaginary, where differences in sexuality cease to matter and where personal movement styles are celebrated within a set of shared rhythms.
Complex coloration and antibacterial functionalization of silk fabrics based on noble metal nanoparticles
Authors: Zhang Zhanyu , Lv Xiaodan , Chen Qidan , An Jing
Published: August 2019

Noble metal nanoparticles and traditional dyes jointly colorate silk fabrics. Gold and silver nanoparticles were in situ synthesized on silk fabrics, and the complex coloration was realized by the integration of traditional dyes into the treated silk. The localized surface plasmon resonance properties of gold and silver nanoparticles were not affected by the coloration of dyed-on silk fabrics. The combined optical properties of nanoparticles and dyes extended the color range and enhanced the color strength (K/S) of silk fabrics. Ultraviolet–visible diffuse absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the in situ synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles on silk fabrics. The coloration of traditional dyes influenced the morphologies of gold and silver nanoparticles on fiber surface slightly. The silk fabrics with complex coloration showed significant antibacterial property. The complex coloration based on particular nanoparticles and dyes provides a promising strategy to develop multifunctional textiles.
Attitudes Toward Aging Among Patients With Upper Extremity Illness
Authors: Tran Thi T.H. , Kortlever Joost T. P. , Teunis Teun , Ring David , Vagner Gregg A. , Reichel Lee M.
Published: August 2019

Background: An adaptive attitude toward aging might limit symptom intensity and magnitude of limitations. This study sought factors associated with attitudes toward aging (measured with the Brief Aging Perceptions Questionnaire [B-APQ]) and studied the relationship of having an age-related disease to magnitude of limitations, pain intensity, patient satisfaction, and patient comfort with completing a questionnaire about attitudes toward aging. We also looked for a subset of questions from B-APQ that maintained the construct validity and internal consistency of B-APQ, without unacceptable flooring or ceiling effects. Methods: A total of 161 upper extremity patients completed the following questionnaires: B-APQ, Patient Health Questionnaire–Short Form, Pain Self-efficacy–Short Form, Pain Catastrophizing Scale–Short Form, Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function–Upper Extremity, pain intensity, satisfaction with the surgeon, and comfort with completing the B-APQ. We created multivariable linear regression models to test for associations. Results: Factors independently associated with less positive perceptions about aging included white race, retired work status, having nonspecific comorbidities, and more catastrophic thinking. Variation in the magnitude of limitations and pain intensity was accounted for by effectiveness of coping strategies rather than attitudes toward aging in particular. A 4-question version of the B-APQ has acceptable performance. Conclusion: Adaptive attitudes toward aging are associated with psychological and social determinants of health. We present a 4-item short form of B-APQ that could be used as a brief measure to assess attitudes toward aging. Interventions to improve adaptiveness to nociception (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy to limit catastrophic thinking) might help with adaptation to age-related changes.
Stabilization of a double inverted rotary pendulum through fractional order integral control scheme
Authors: Mehedi Ibrahim Mustafa , Al-Saggaf Ubaid M , Mansouri Rachid , Bettayeb Maamar
Published: August 2019

Rotary double inverted pendulum is a highly nonlinear complex system and requires a high performance controller for its control. Using gain matrix which is obtained through state feedback technique may create complexity while removing the steady-state error for all states. Incorporating an integral action can be an alternative for these errors. Therefore, a state space–based fractional order controller with fractional integral action is designed and tested on a rotary double inverted pendulum in this article. The fractional integral controller is designed based on Bode’s ideal transfer function. Two degree of freedom is considered for tuning purpose as well. The integer order controller based on the state space approach is also shown for comparison. Simulation and experimental results are presented for both controllers of this rotary double inverted pendulum system.
Classification of foreign fibers using deep learning and its implementation on embedded system
Authors: Wei Wei , Deng Dexiang , Zeng Lin , Zhang Chen , Shi Wenxuan
Published: August 2019

In recent years, the foreign fibers in cotton lint significantly affect the quality of the final cotton textile products. It remains a challenging task to accurately distinguish foreign fibers from cotton. This article proposes an embedded system based on field programmable gate array (FPGA) + digital signal processor (DSP) to recognize and remove foreign fibers mixed in cotton. With substantial tests of this system, we collect massive samples of foreign fibers and fake foreign fibers. Based on these samples, a convolution neural network mode is developed to validate the classification of the suspected targets from the detection subsystem, to improve the detection reliability. After training several model architectures, we find a model with the best balance between performance and computation. The high success rate (up to 96% in the validation set) demonstrates the effectiveness of the model. Moreover, the computation time (5 ms on a single image based on an eight-core DSP) indicates the efficiency of the detection, which ensures the real-time application of the system.
Results from a meta-analysis of immune checkpoint inhibitors in first-line renal cancer patients: does PD-L1 matter?
Authors: Roviello Giandomenico , Corona Silvia Paola , Nesi Gabriella , Mini Enrico
Published: August 2019

Background:

The aim of this study was to perform a literature-based meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of the novel immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in first-line metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), focusing on the predictive role of PD-L1 expression.

Methods:

The primary outcome was overall survival, and secondary outcomes were progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response. We planned a subgroup analysis for overall survival according to PD-L1 status.

Results:

Five studies were included in the analysis for a total of 4063 cases. Overall survival was greater in PD-L1 positive tumours (HR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.36–0.67; p < 0.001). The pooled analysis of the unselected cases showed a statistically significative improvement in PFS with the use of ICIs (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.72–0.99; p = 0.04) and we found a greater PFS benefit (HR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.57–0.74; p < 0.001) in patients with PD-L1 positive tumours.

Conclusions:

This study supports the efficacy of ICIs and, although a significant clinical benefit has been reported in PD-L1 negative patients, a greater efficacy of ICIs was observed in PD-L1 positive patients. More prospective randomized studies are needed to clarify the role of PDL-1 status in metastatic RCC treated with ICIs.
Perspectives on algorithmic normativities: engineers, objects, activities
Authors: Grosman Jérémy , Reigeluth Tyler
Published: August 2019

This contribution aims at proposing a framework for articulating different kinds of “normativities” that are and can be attributed to “algorithmic systems.” The technical normativity manifests itself through the lineage of technical objects. The norm expresses a technical scheme’s becoming as it mutates through, but also resists, inventions. The genealogy of neural networks shall provide a powerful illustration of this dynamic by engaging with their concrete functioning as well as their unsuspected potentialities. The socio-technical normativity accounts for the manners in which engineers, as actors folded into socio-technical networks, willingly or unwittingly, infuse technical objects with values materialized in the system. Surveillance systems’ design will serve here to instantiate the ongoing mediation through which algorithmic systems are endowed with specific capacities. The behavioral normativity is the normative activity, in which both organic and mechanical behaviors are actively participating, undoing the identification of machines with “norm following,” and organisms with “norminstitution”. This proposition productively accounts for the singularity of machine learning algorithms, explored here through the case of recommender systems. The paper will provide substantial discussions of the notions of “normative” by cutting across history and philosophy of science, legal, and critical theory, as well as “algorithmics,” and by confronting our studies led in engineering laboratories with critical algorithm studies.
Effects of knee orthoses on kinesthetic awareness and balance in healthy individuals
Authors: Ramstrand Nerrolyn , Gjøvaag Terje , Starholm Inger Marie , Rusaw David F
Published: August 2019

Introduction

Conflicting evidence exists regarding the effects of knee orthoses on proprioception. One belief is that pressure applied by orthoses heightens kinesthetic awareness and that this affects balance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two different orthosis designs on kinesthetic awareness and balance in healthy individuals.

Methods

Twenty individuals (13 women) participated in this case series study. Each was tested wearing 1/no orthosis, 2/soft elastic orthosis and 3/non-elastic jointed orthosis. Pressure under orthoses was recorded. Kinesthetic awareness was investigated by testing joint position sense and threshold to detection of passive motion. Balance was tested using a modified sensory organization test.

Results

Non-elastic jointed orthoses applied the greatest pressure to the knee. With non-elastic jointed orthoses, threshold to detection of passive motion was significantly poorer for pooled results ( p = 0.02) and when the start position of the knee was 70° (mean threshold = 0.6°, 0.6°, 0.7° for no-orthosis, elastic and jointed-orthoses; p = 0.03). No major differences were observed in JPS or balance and correlation between proprioception and balance was poor.

Conclusions

There may be a limit to the amount of pressure that should be applied to the knee joint by an orthosis. Exceeding this limit may compromise kinesthetic awareness.
Networked Influence: An Introduction
Authors: Jacobson Jenna , Gruzd Anatoliy , Kumar Priya , Mai Philip
Published: August 2019

We are witnessing a changing social media environment with new actors, new influencers, and new challenges. Considering the changes on social media platforms, the rise of bots, and the increased participation of state actors, this thematic collection addresses the methodological, topical, and ethical issues of networked influence. The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal opened a new chapter to analyze what “influence” means in our current, complicated social media age. As discussed in the five papers stemming from the 2018 International Conference on Social Media & Society, this special issue introduces a wide array of interdisciplinary topics and approaches that highlight the rapid changes in social media environments, use, and users—with a focus on networked influence; by doing so, we attempt to answer some of the key research questions in this area, such as (1) how to identify and measure influence (broadly defined), (2) how to track propaganda campaigns, (3) how to effectively disseminate information and measure the public’s response to these information campaigns, (4) how do bots influence opinion trends on social media, and, finally, (5) how does the public frame privacy in a social media age?
Democratization and civil society development through the perspectives of Gramsci and Tocqueville in South Korea and Japan
Authors: Willis Charmaine N
Published: August 2019

The development of a country’s civil society has typically been tied to the development of democracy: a vibrant civil society is indicative of a vibrant democracy. Why, then, has civil society emerged differently in South Korea, a country that democratized fairly recently, and Japan, a country that has been democratic since the end of the Second World War? I argue the origins of democracy in both states significantly contributed to the contrasting characters of civil society. In Japan, top-down democratization facilitated the development of a civil society with a strong link to the state for the majority of the 20th century, best viewed from the perspective of Gramsci. By contrast, the bottom-up democratization process in South Korea fostered a civil society where organizations monitor the state, best understood from the Tocquevillian perspective. Through comparative case analysis, this study endeavors to contribute to the literature on civil society by highlighting the ways in which democratization influences the trajectory of civil society.
Understanding the interactions between iron supplementation, infectious disease and adverse birth outcomes is essential to guide public health recommendations
Authors: Fowkes Freya J. I. , Davidson Eliza , Agius Paul A. , Beeson James G.
Published: August 2019

Pregnant women are highly susceptible to anaemia and iron deficiency due to the increased demands of pregnancy as well as other factors. Iron supplementation is recommended in pregnancy, yet the benefits on newborn outcomes are variable between populations, most likely due to the heterogeneity in the prevalence of iron deficiency, detrimental birth outcomes and infectious diseases. Furthermore, there are concerns regarding iron supplementation in malaria-endemic areas due to reports of increased risk of malaria in those receiving iron. This is compounded by limited knowledge of how iron deficiency, anaemia, malaria, and other infections may interact to influence birth outcomes. In a recent cohort study in Papua New Guinea, where there is a high burden of infections and iron deficiency, we found that iron deficiency in pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of adverse birth outcomes. However, this effect could not be wholly explained by interactions between iron deficiency and malaria. We proposed that iron deficiency may confer a degree of protection against other infectious pathogens, which in turn caused improvements in birthweight. We argue that further studies in multiple populations are crucial to elucidate interactions between iron status, iron supplementation and birthweight as well as to understand the context-specific benefits of iron supplementation in pregnancy and inform public policy. Focus should be given to haematological studies on anaemia, haemodilution and iron absorption, as well as investigating infectious diseases and other nutritional deficiencies. This is a particular priority in resource-constrained settings where the prevalence of iron deficiency, poor nutrition, infections and poor birth outcomes are high. While current recommendations of iron supplementation and malaria prophylaxis to reduce the burden of poor pregnancy outcomes should be supported, the strength of evidence underpinning these must be improved and new insights should be garnered in order to maximise improvements in maternal and child health.

Please see related article: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1146-z.

Please see related article: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-019-1375-9.
A longitudinal study of eating behaviours in childhood and later eating disorder behaviours and diagnoses
Authors: Herle Moritz , Stavola Bianca De , Hübel Christopher , Abdulkadir Mohamed , Ferreira Diana Santos , Loos Ruth J. F. , Bryant-Waugh Rachel , Bulik Cynthia M. , Micali Nadia
Published: August 2019

Background

Eating behaviours in childhood are considered as risk factors for eating disorder behaviours and diagnoses in adolescence. However, few longitudinal studies have examined this association.

Aims

We investigated associations between childhood eating behaviours during the first ten years of life and eating disorder behaviours (binge eating, purging, fasting and excessive exercise) and diagnoses (anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, purging disorder and bulimia nervosa) at 16 years.

Method

Data on 4760 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children were included. Longitudinal trajectories of parent-rated childhood eating behaviours (8 time points, 1.3–9 years) were derived by latent class growth analyses. Eating disorder diagnoses were derived from self-reported, parent-reported and objectively measured anthropometric data at age 16 years. We estimated associations between childhood eating behaviours and eating disorder behaviours and diagnoses, using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Childhood overeating was associated with increased risk of adolescent binge eating (risk difference, 7%; 95% CI 2 to 12) and binge eating disorder (risk difference, 1%; 95% CI 0.2 to 3). Persistent undereating was associated with higher anorexia nervosa risk in adolescent girls only (risk difference, 6%; 95% CI, 0 to 12). Persistent fussy eating was associated with greater anorexia nervosa risk (risk difference, 2%; 95% CI 0 to 4).

Conclusions

Our results suggest continuities of eating behaviours into eating disorders from early life to adolescence. It remains to be determined whether childhood eating behaviours are an early manifestation of a specific phenotype or whether the mechanisms underlying this continuity are more complex. Findings have the potential to inform preventative strategies for eating disorders.