Polygamy and Same-Sex Marriage - Allies or Adversaries Within the Same-Sex Marriage Movement

This article addresses the charged slippery slope accusation that permitting same-sex marriage will inevitably lead to the legalization of polygamy. While same-sex marriage advocates generally distance their cause from polygamy and its disparaging history when responding to such accusations, this article determines whether that response is appropriate, or alternatively, whether the same-sex marriage movement could benefit from linkages between polygamy and same-sex marriage. In conducting the analysis, this article presents a nuanced discussion of marriage and its varying forms. Specifically, it examines the United States\u27 historical regulation of polygamy, interrogates analogies between polygamy and same-sex marriage, compares cross-cultural practices and regulation of polygamy, and reviews the international human rights stance on polygamy and its implications for gender inequality. The article ultimately concludes that while polygamy and same-sex marriage may share some common ground, advocates should continue to distance same-sex marriage from plural marriage to avoid relinquishing the movement\u27s hard-earned cultural capital and societal support. In doing so, however, advocates should avoid maligning polygamy and playing into the cultural narrative that plural marriage is resoundingly barbaric and misogynistic, and instead, direct time and energy toward respecting diversity while fighting for equality

Status of Forces Agreements: Tools to Further Effective Foreign Policy and Lessons To Be Learned from the United States-Japan Agreement

In order to maintain political legitimacy and positive foreign relations, it is imperative that the United States considers the profound implications of its military policy-making. The United States must fashion SOFAs(an agreement entered into between nations that delineates the legal rights and responsibilities of military forces stationed on foreign soil. ) that reach beyond its own national interests and equitably address the needs and concerns of the receiving nation. By taking this approach, the United States will do much to garner future international support

Effect of Membrane Exposure on Guided Bone Regeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Aims: This review aimed at investigating the effect of membrane exposure on guided bone regeneration (GBR) outcomes at peri-implant sites and edentulous ridges. Material and Methods: Electronic and manual literature searches were conducted by two independent reviewers using four databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, for articles up to February 2017. Articles were included if they were human clinical trials or case series reporting outcomes of GBR procedures with and without membrane exposure. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted, and the weighted mean difference (WMD) between the two groups and 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported. Results: Overall, eight articles were included in the quantitative analysis. The WMD of the horizontal bone gain at edentulous ridges was −76.24% (95% CI = −137.52% to −14.97%, p = .01) between sites with membrane exposure and without exposure. In addition, the WMD of the dehiscence reduction at peri- implant sites was −27.27% (95% CI of −45.87% to −8.68%, p = .004). Both analyses showed significantly favorable outcomes at the sites without membrane exposure. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, membrane exposure after GBR procedures has a significant detrimental influence on the outcome of bone augmentation. For the edentulous ridges, the sites without membrane exposure achieved 74% more horizontal bone gain than the sites with exposure. For peri-implant dehiscence defects, the sites without membrane exposure had 27% more defect reduction than the sites with exposure

Comparative analysis of collagen membranes for the treatment of implant dehiscence defects

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) evolved from the concept of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and has been used for reconstructing sites with bone deficiencies associated with dental implants. For GBR, the use of absorbable collagen membranes has been increasing, but, at present, scientific information on the use of collagen membranes for GBR is limited. This study was aimed to clinically and histomorphometrically compare two collagen membranes, Bio-Gide ® and BioMend Extend TM , for the treatment of implant dehiscence defects in eight mongrel dogs. Implant dehiscence defects were surgically created in edentulous ridges, followed by the placement of three endosseous implants bilaterally in the mandible. Each implant dehiscence defect was randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: (1) control (no membrane), (2) porcine dermis collagen barrier (Bio-Gide) or (3) bovine tendon collagen barrier (BioMend Extend). Dogs were sacrificed at 4 and 16 weeks (four dogs each) after treatment. Histomorphometric analysis included percentage linear bone fill (LF), new bone-to-implant contact (BIC) and area of new bone fill (BF). The results of the study revealed no significant differences among groups for any parameter at 4 weeks. However, at 16 weeks, more LF, BIC, and BF were noted in the membrane-treated groups than controls. BioMend Extend-treated defects demonstrated significantly greater BIC than control ( P  < 0.05) at this time point. BIC at 16 weeks was significantly greater than 4-week BIC ( P  < 0.05). Membrane exposure occurred in 9 out of 15 sites examined, resulting in significantly less LF and BIC than the sites without membrane exposure ( P  < 0.05). The results of this study indicate that: (1) GBR treatment with collagen membranes may significantly enhance bone regeneration, manifested at late stage (16 weeks) of healing; and (2) space maintenance and membrane coverage were the two most important factors affecting GBR using bioabsorbable collagen membranes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72252/1/j.1600-0501.2003.140111.x.pd

The taper of cast post preparation measured using innovative image processing technique

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>No documentation in the literature about taper of cast posts. This study was conducted to measure the degree of cast posts taper, and to evaluate its suitability based on the anatomy aspects of the common candidate teeth for post reconstruction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Working casts for cast posts, prepared using Gates Glidden drills, were collected. Impressions of post spaces were made using polyvinyl siloxan putty/wash technique. Digital camera with a 10' high quality lens was used for capturing two digital images for each impression; one in the Facio-Lingual (FL) and the other in the Mesio-Distal (MD) directions. Automated image processing program was developed to measure the degree of canal taper. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software and One way Analysis of Variance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eighty four dies for cast posts were collected: 16 for each maxillary anterior teeth subgroup, and 18 for each maxillary and mandibular premolar subgroup. Mean of total taper for all preparations was 10.7 degree. There were no statistical differences among the total taper of all groups (P = .256) or between the MD and FL taper for each subgroup. Mean FL taper for the maxillary first premolars was lower significantly (P = .003) than the maxillary FL taper of the second premolars. FL taper was higher than the MD taper in all teeth except the maxillary first premolars.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taper produced did not reflect the differences among the anatomy of teeth. While this technique deemed satisfactory in the maxillary anterior teeth, the same could not be said for the maxillary first premolars. Careful attention to the root anatomy is mandatory.</p