bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hamartoma of mature cardiomyocytes in right atrium
Authors: Zhou Xinqi , Zhou Yangzhao , Zhaoshun Yuan , Zeng Mu , Zhou Xinmin , Liao Xiaobo , Zhang Zhiyuan
Published: August 2019

Rationale:

Tumors in the heart are rare. Myxomas, rhabdomyomas, and fibromas are the most common benign cardiac tumors. Hamartoma of mature cardiomyocytes (HMCM) is another benign cardiac tumor, are very rare and have only been reported in a few literatures.

Patient concerns:

We report a case of 41-year-old male who suffered short of breath for 3 years, and lower limbs edema for 2 years.

Diagnoses:

Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) showed a large amount of pericardial effusion and confirmed a mass of 18 × 14 mm on the superior vena cava near the outer edge of right atrium. The patient was first diagnosed as pleural mesothelioma. Surgery was performed to relieve the symptoms and confirm diagnoses. However, during surgery, we found the right atrium is apparently thicken with rough and uneven surface. Histology of right atrium mass indicated it as hamartoma of mature cardiomyocytes.

Intervention:

We resected the thicken atrial wall completely, reconstructed right atrium with bovine pericardial patch, and resected the pericardium.

Outcomes:

Patient was discharged 9 days after surgery, and remained asymptomatic during 9 months follow up.

Lessons:

Hamartoma of mature cardomyocytes is a rare benign cardiac tumor. There were 26 cases reported until now. The conclusive diagnosis depends on pathological sections. For patients with symptoms, surgery is an effective treatment for HMCM.
Deep vein thrombosis secondary to abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Goh Zhong Ning Leonard , Seak Joanna Chen-Yeen , Seak Chen-Ken , Wu Chen-Te , Seak Chen-June
Published: August 2019

Rationale:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is an extremely rare cause of deep vein thrombosis. Here we report an elderly gentleman who presented with deep vein thrombosis and was found to have concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm upon ultrasonographic screening. It illustrates the possibility of such an aetiology, and the importance of screening for such aneurysms in a select patient population before heparinization.

Patient concerns:

A 73-year-old Asian gentleman with underlying hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, chronic renal failure, and history of chronic smoking presented to the emergency department with acute left lower limb swelling of 1 day. On examination, the patient was tachycardic (110 beats/minute) and hypertensive (168/84 millimeters mercury (mmHg)). The entire left lower limb was swollen with notable pitting oedema, tenderness, and warmth; left calf swelling was measured to be 4 centimeters (cm).

Diagnoses:

The patient's Wells score of 4 placed him in the high-risk group for deep vein thrombosis. Serum D-dimer was subsequently found to be elevated at 926 nanograms/milliliter (ng/ml). Compression ultrasonography revealed a thrombus in the left deep femoral vein, confirming the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis. The ultrasonographic evaluation was extended to the abdominal aorta due to the patient's high risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, and a 7-cm aneurysm was indeed found. Further computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging localized it to the infrarenal region, with left common iliac vein compression resulting in stagnant venous return.

Interventions:

Emergency endovascular repair was performed with insertion of an inferior vena cava filter.

Outcomes:

The patient was subsequently monitored in the intensive care unit and uneventfully discharged after 2 weeks.

Lessons:

Such clinical presentations of deep vein thrombosis are rare, but physicians are reminded to consider screening for abdominal aneurysms and other anatomical causes before heparinization in patients who seemingly do not have thromboembolic risk factors. This is especially so for the high risk group of male deep vein thrombosis patients aged 65–75 years with a history of smoking who have yet to be screened for abdominal aortic aneurysms, in line with United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations.
Survival after cardiac arrest secondary to high-risk pulmonary embolism without reperfusion therapies
Authors: Xu Cai-Yun , Song Jia-Fu , Yao Li-Hong , Xu Hui-Ling , Liu Ke-Xi
Published: August 2019

Introduction:

High-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) needs reperfusion therapies. However, it is difficult to make medical decisions when thrombolysis is contraindicated, though pulmonary embolectomy and percutaneous catheter-directed treatment (CTD) are recommended for these patients.

Patient concerns:

We reported here a case of high-risk PE patient with cardiac arrest (CA), vertebral compression fracture, as well as scalp and frontal hematoma.

Diagnosis:

The diagnosis of PE was based on computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) which demonstrated filling defects in the right and left pulmonary arteries.

Interventions:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed until the patient returned to idioventricular rhythm 3 minutes after admitted. She suffered another half-hour of hemodynamic disturbance after her shock improved 3 days later. The diagnosis of PE was confirmed by CTPA at that time. The patient did not receive any reperfusion therapies because hemoglobin decreased significantly. Moreover, anticoagulation was postponed for 2 weeks when bleeding appeared to be stopped. She received overlapping treatment with low molecular weight heparin and warfarin for 5 days then warfarin alone and discharged.

Outcomes:

She was discharged with normal vital signs and neurologically intact. She received anticoagulant therapy with warfarin and international normalized ratio regularly monitored after she was discharged, moreover, the pulmonary artery pressure turned normal, as determined by transthoracic echocardiography 1 month later. The warfarin treatment was discontinued after 12 months and no evidence of recurrence was seen until recently.

Conclusions:

This is the first case report of PE combined with CA that did not receive reperfusion therapy. We hypothesized that there was a spontaneous resolution in pulmonary emboli.
Endoscopic full-thickness resection for a gastrointestinal stromal tumor in a liver transplant recipient
Authors: Xie Man , Rao Wei , Zhang Peng , Zhao Qingxi , Tian Zibin
Published: August 2019

Rationale:

With the development of endoscopic technique and the improvement of available accessories, endoscopic therapy became to play an important role in the management of gastrointestinal submucosal tumors (SMTs).

Patients concerns:

A gastric SMT which was suspected to be gastrointestinal stroma tumor (GIST) was diagnosed in a liver transplant recipient who received transplanted operation 11 months ago.

Diagnosis:

gastric SMT, post-liver transplantation

Interventions:

Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFR) was preformed to remove the tumor. The operation time was 50 minutes and oral immunosuppressant drug was not interrupted in the postoperative period.

Outcomes:

The clinical course was uneventful and slightly elevated liver enzyme was observed on the fourth day after operation. The pathological diagnosis was GIST with complete capsule.

Lessons:

Our successful experience showed that EFR is a feasible, safe and efficacious treatment for small (<2 cm) gastric GIST in liver transplant recipients, providing the advantages of little damage, short operative time, stable graft function, without compromising postoperative outcomes.
A statistical analysis plan for a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ethosuximide in patients with treatment-resistant depression
Authors: Jiang Jiajun , Wang Zheng , Dong YiYan , Yang Yan , Ng Chee H. , Ma Shuangshuang , Xu Yi , Hu Hailan , Hu Shaohua
Published: August 2019

Background and objective:

A recent striking advance in the treatment of depression has been the finding of rapid antidepressant effects in over 70% of patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) using ketamine. However, the potential risk of addiction may limit its clinical use. Recent research revealed that blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) dependent bursting activity in the lateral habenula (LHb) could mediate the fast antidepressant effects of ketamine. Further, LHb bursting plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression that requires both NMDARs and low-voltage-sensitive T-type calcium channels (T-VSCCs). Ethosuximide, which is used to treat absence seizures, is a T-VSCCs inhibitor, may be a novel drug candidate for depression. The objective of this clinical trial is to investigate the efficacy and safety of ethosuximide in patients with TRD.

Design:

The study is a single center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, two-stage clinical trial. Forty patients with TRD will be randomly assigned to Group A (treatment group) or Group B (control group). In the first stage ethosuximide or placebo will be given for 2 weeks. In the second stage, escitalopram (or another antidepressant if escitalopram has been used before) will be given for the next 4 weeks for all trial patients to ensure effective treatment. The primary outcome measure is the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores. Secondary outcome measures include the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology—Self Report score, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores, individual scores of MADRS, and Young Mania Rating Scale scores. All these scales are measured at baseline and at each treatment visit. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance is used to analyze the study outcomes.

Discussion:

A statistical analysis plan is employed to enhance the transparency of the clinical trial and reduce the risks of outcome reporting bias and data-driven results.
The consequence of endotracheal intubation in a 95-years old man for 839 days
Authors: Feng Yan-mei , Wan Dong , Guo Rui
Published: August 2019

Rationale:

The benefits of prolonged endotracheal intubation (ETI) in comparison to early tracheotomy is still over the controversy. Little information is available in concern to prolonged ETI more than years. We report the consequence of oral ETI in a 95-year old man for 839 days.

Patient concerns:

This patient was transferred to the intensive care unit due to sputum asphyxia and respiratory arrest. Timely ETI was performed. However, as a neurological insult, extubation had a high risk of failure due to the insufficient ability of sputum clearance. In addition, his family members refused further surgical interventions including tracheotomy.

Diagnoses:

Prolonged ETI occurred in this patient. On day 240 and 329 after ETI, 3D airway image did not reveal laryngeal stenosis or laryngeal lesions. On day 459 and 662, ET tube (ETT) exchanged was performed and the balloon became stiff and inelasticity.

Interventions:

Although a possible tracheoesophageal fistula was suspected by imaging findings on day 547, the gastroscopy did not reveal the fistula on the esophagus. Enteral nutrition was delivered through the gastric tube, while the mediastinal infection was not observed during subsequent follow-up of computed tomography.

Outcomes:

He received tracheostomy due to acute sputum obstruction within ETT and abrupt oxygen desaturation on day 839.

Lessons:

During prolonged ETI, more attention should focus on airway humidification, proper cuff pressure and optimal time for tube exchange in order to avoid severe complications.
Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction for diabetic peripheral neuropathy
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Gong Guangming , Zhang Xiyu , Zhou Linyue , Xie Hongyan , Tian Yuan , Xie Chunguang
Published: August 2019

Background:

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common causes of disability in diabetic population, and its pathogenesis is related to a variety of factors. There is currently no effective treatment for such chronic disease. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long clinical history for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and chronic complications, and it also shows certain advantages in the treatment of DPN. Many clinical studies have confirmed that Chinese medicine Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction (HGWD) can reduce the clinical symptoms and improve neuronal function of patients with DPN. So we intend to conduct a systematic review further clarified the effectiveness and safety of HGWD for DPN.

Methods:

We will search each database from the built-in until June 2019. The English literature mainly searches Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, while the Chinese literature comes from CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wangfang database. Simultaneously we will retrieval clinical registration tests and grey literatures. This study only screen the clinical randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about HGWD for DPN to assess its efficacy and safety. The 2 researchers worked independently on literature selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. The dichotomous data is represented by relative risk (RR), and the continuous is expressed by mean difference (MD) or standard mean difference (SMD), eventually the data is synthesized using a fixed effect model (FEM) or a random effect model (REM) depending on whether or not heterogeneity exists. The clinical efficacy, median sensory nerve conduction velocity, median motor nerve conduction velocity, peroneal sensory nerve conduction velocity, and peroneal motor nerve conduction velocity were evaluated as the main outcomes. Fasting blood glucose, 2 hours postprandial blood glucose, hemorheology, and adverse reactions were secondary outcomes. Finally, meta-analysis was conducted by RevMan software version 5.3.

Results:

This study will synthesize and provide high-quality evidence based on the data of the currently published HGWD for the treatment of DPN, especially in terms of clinical efficacy, neurological function, blood glucose, hemorheology, and safety.

Conclusion:

This systematic review aims to provide new options for HGWD treatment of DPN in terms of its efficacy and safety.

PROSPERO registration number:

PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019132031.
Neurofibromatosis type 1 with tarsal conjunctiva thickening
Authors: Kim Joo Young , Lee Mee Yon , Lee Young Chun , Shin Hye-Young
Published: August 2019

Rationale:

We report a rare case of neurofibroma in the form of tarsal conjunctival thickening of the eyelid in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), common ocular complications of which are Lisch nodules, choroidal nodules, and optic nerve glioma.

Patient concerns:

A 46-year-old female patient was diagnosed with neurofibroma after biopsy and removal of 2 lumbar level intradural masses 15 years ago. She was being monitored without recurrence. When the patient visited our hospital, multiple iris Lisch nodules were found in both her eyes with ill-defined, diffuse thickening in the upper eyelid tarsal conjunctiva of the right eye.

Diagnosis:

Neurofibroma was diagnosed by incisional biopsy and immunohistochemistry of the tarsal conjunctiva.

Interventions:

The patient of the present case did not undergo any additional surgical treatment because tarsal conjunctiva thickening caused little functional problem.

Outcomes:

The patient has only been regularly examined for changes in size of neurofibroma, and there was no change in size over a 12-month period.

Lessons:

Neurofibroma should be considered as a differential diagnosis if a patient diagnosed with NF1 shows tarsal conjunctiva thickening.
Sonographic Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Dysfunction
Authors: Dass Chandra , Dako Farouk , Simpson Scott , Marchetti Nathaniel , Steiner Robert , Criner Gerard
Published: August 2019

Diaphragmatic dysfunction is a potential cause of dyspnea that can lead to significant morbidity. The purpose of this review article is to provide readers with the essentials for performing diaphragm ultrasonography, image interpretation, and the technical limitations one needs to be aware of. Diaphragm ultrasonography is simple to perform and has proven to be an accurate and safe bedside modality, overcoming many of the traditional limitations of fluoroscopy.
Co-crystal structure of the iMango-III fluorescent RNA aptamer using an X-ray free-electron laser
Authors: Trachman Robert J. , Stagno Jason R. , Conrad Chelsie , Jones Christopher P. , Fischer Pontus , Meents Alke , Wang Yun-Xing , Ferré-D'Amaré Adrian R.
Published: August 2019

Turn-on aptamers are in vitro-selected RNAs that bind to conditionally fluorescent small molecules and enhance their fluorescence. Upon binding TO1-biotin, the iMango-III aptamer achieves the largest fluorescence enhancement reported for turn-on aptamers (over 5000-fold). This aptamer was generated by structure-guided engineering and functional reselection of the parental aptamer Mango-III. Structures of both Mango-III and iMango-III have previously been determined by conventional cryocrystallography using synchrotron X-radiation. Using an X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL), the room-temperature iMango-III–TO1-biotin co-crystal structure has now been determined at 3.0 Å resolution. This structural model, which was refined against a data set of ∼1300 diffraction images (each from a single crystal), is largely consistent with the structures determined from single-crystal data sets collected at 100 K. This constitutes a technical benchmark on the way to XFEL pump–probe experiments on fluorescent RNA–small molecule complexes.
The Rel stringent factor from Thermus thermophilus: crystallization and X-ray analysis
Authors: Van Nerom Katleen , Tamman Hedvig , Takada Hiraku , Hauryliuk Vasili , Garcia-Pino Abel
Published: August 2019

The stringent response, controlled by (p)ppGpp, enables bacteria to trigger a strong phenotypic resetting that is crucial to cope with adverse environmental changes and is required for stress survival and virulence. In the bacterial cell, (p)ppGpp levels are regulated by the concerted opposing activities of RSH (RelA/SpoT homologue) enzymes that can transfer a pyrophosphate group of ATP to the 3′ position of GDP (or GTP) or remove the 3′ pyrophosphate moiety from (p)ppGpp. Bifunctional Rel enzymes are notoriously difficult to crystallize owing to poor stability and a propensity for aggregation, usually leading to a loss of biological activity after purification. Here, the production, biochemical analysis and crystallization of the bifunctional catalytic region of the Rel stringent factor from Thermus thermophilus (Rel
Tt

NTD) in the resting state and bound to nucleotides are described. Rel
Tt
and Rel
Tt

NTD are monomers in solution that are stabilized by the binding of Mn2+ and mellitic acid. Rel
Tt

NTD crystallizes in space group P4122, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 88.4, c = 182.7 Å, at 4°C and in space group P41212, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 105.7, c = 241.4 Å, at 20°C.
Crystal structure and chemistry of tricadmium digermanium tetraarsenide, Cd3Ge2As4
Authors: Thompson Michael R. , Riley Brian J. , Bowden Mark E. , Olszta Matthew J. , Edwards Danny J. , Crum Jarrod V. , Johnson Bradley R. , Chong Saehwa
Published: August 2019

A cadmium germanium arsenide compound, Cd3Ge2As4, was synthesized using a double-containment fused quartz ampoule method within a rocking furnace and a melt-quench technique. The crystal structure was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (i.e. SEM, STEM, and TEM), and selected area diffraction (SAD) and confirmed with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The chemistry was verified with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).
Influence of irradiation intensity on corrosion properties of microarc oxidation film on AZ31 magnesium alloy with HIPIB
Authors: Han X.G. , Lv J.F. , Chen Y.Z. , Shan Y.C. , Xu J.J.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of high-intensity pulsed ion beam (HIPIB) intensity on the structure and corrosive properties of microarc oxidation (MAO) films on AZ31 magnesium alloy and explore the mechanism for modified anti-corrosion properties of irradiated films.

Design/methodology/approach

The energy deposited on the coating surface influences the remelting process of the MAO coatings significantly, which was closely related to the intensity of HIPIB; therefore, HIPIB with various intensities of 100-350 A/cm2, was selected to modify the MAO films on AZ31 magnesium alloy. The changes in film structure and phase structure of modified films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) with CuKα, respectively. The corrosive behavior of the MAO films was featured with polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectrum in 3.5 per cent NaCl solution on a PAR 2273 electrochemical workstation.

Findings

The results clearly show that a dense, continual and remelted layer with a few micrometers in thickness was obtained on the irradiated surface at 200 A/cm2, which are mainly responsible for the modified and optimal anti-corrosion property of MAO films by suppressing/retarding the process of the corrosive electrolyte infiltration into magnesium substrate surface.

Originality/value

The paper reveals that HIPIB irradiation could modify the corrosion resistance by producing a remelted compact layer on the MAO film surface at a suitable irradiation parameter and explored the modified mechanism of MAO films.
Managing change in BIM-Level 2 projects: benefits, challenges, and opportunities
Authors: Blay Karen B. , Tuuli Martin Morgan , France-Mensah Jojo
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to validate perceived benefits and challenges of managing change in Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 2 projects and to further explore the opportunities for enhancing the benefits and reducing the challenges. This research is timely because, hitherto, the benefits and challenges of managing change in BIM Level 2 remained largely unvalidated and the opportunities for enhancing the benefits and reducing challenges remained relatively unexplored.

Design/methodology/approach

A combination of a questionnaire survey and interviews with BIM Level 2 practitioners in the UK was employed in this study. In all, 41 responses were received from the questionnaire survey and ten subsequent interviews with BIM practitioners were carried out to explore opportunities for reducing challenges and increasing benefits of managing change in BIM Level 2 projects.

Findings

The study confirms benefits and challenges of managing change in BIM Level 2 projects identified and synthesised from literature, a much needed validation. Additional benefits and challenges were also identified in this study, such as cost saving and risk reduction (benefits) and social dimension issues in the BIM Level 2 processes (challenges). Opportunities identified to enhance benefits and reduce challenges were mainly socially driven, and were either reactive or proactive in nature.

Research limitations/implications

Opportunities for reducing challenges and increasing benefits identified from this research can inform the change management processes in BIM-Level 2.

Practical implications

The findings provide concrete basis for shaping BIM Level 2 change management processes and requirements.

Social implications

The identification of behaviours as shaping the social requirements for BIM-Level 2 confirms the need for a socio-technical approach to successful BIM implementation.

Originality/value

The identification of behaviours as shaping the social requirements for BIM Level 2 confirms the need for a socio-technical approach to successful BIM implementation.
The Pransky interview: Dr Hod Lipson, Professor at Columbia University; Robotics, AI, Digital Design and Manufacturing Innovator and Entrepreneur
Authors: Pransky Joanne
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper is a “Q&A interview” conducted by Joanne Pransky of Industrial Robot Journal as a method to impart the combined technological, business and personal experience of a prominent, robotic industry PhD and innovator regarding his personal journey and the commercialization and challenges of bringing a technological invention to market. This paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The interviewee is Dr Hod Lipson, James and Sally Scapa Professor of Innovation of Mechanical Engineering and Data Science at Columbia University. Lipson’s bio-inspired research led him to co-found four companies. In this interview, Dr Lipson shares some of his personal and business experiences of working in academia and industry.

Findings

Dr Lipson received his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in 1989. He worked as a software developer and also served for the next five years as a Lieutenant Commander for the Israeli Navy. He then co-founded his first company, Tri-logical Technologies (an Israeli company) in 1994 before pursuing a PhD, which was awarded to him from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology in Mechanical Engineering in the fall of 1998. From 1998 to 2001, he did his postdoc research at Brandeis University, Computer Science Department, while also lecturing at MIT. Dr Lipson served as Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Computing & Information Science at Cornell University for 14 years and joined Columbia University as a Professor in Mechanical Engineering in 2015. From 2013 to 2015, he also served as Editor-in-Chief for the journal 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing (3DP), published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc.

Originality/value

Dr Lipson’s broad spectrum and multi-decades of research has focused on self-aware and self-replicating robots. Dr Lipson directs the Creative Machines Lab which pioneers new ways for novel autonomous systems to design and make other machines, based on biological concepts. In total, his lab has graduated over 50 graduate students and over 20 PhD and Postdocs. Some of these students joined Lipson, in cofounding startups, while others went on to found their own companies. Lipson has coauthored over 300 publications that received over 20,000 citations. He has also coauthored the award-winning book Fabricated: The New World of 3D Printing and the book Driverless: Intelligent Cars and the Road Ahead. Forbes magazine named him one of the “World's Most Powerful Data Scientists”. His TED Talk on self-aware machines is one of the most viewed presentations on AI and robotics.
Budgeting and monitoring functions of the Tanzanian Parliament
Authors: Mkasiwa Tausi Ally
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of budgeting in the monitoring functions of the Tanzanian Parliament, specifically the monitoring functions of the Parliamentary Budget Committee (PBC).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses Burchellet al.’s (1980) accounting “machines” framework and its development as a theoretical lens to interpret the research findings. Interviews, document analysis and observation were used for data collection.

Findings

The findings reveal that budget documents were used as learning and answering machines, as they served as the basis for questioning, for checking variances, for reviewing and for conducting monitoring visits. Budgeting procedures were utilized as ammunition machines, as they were used as the basis for expressing legislative officials’ positions and understanding the logic of executive officials’ actions.

Research limitations/implications

The paper investigates the role of budgeting in a parliamentary setting. However, comparative analysis is missing. Nevertheless, the results provide a foundation for future studies and the opportunity to investigate the role of budgeting in the monitoring functions of other parliaments, especially in emerging economies.

Practical implications

The study has practical implications directed toward governments, especially in emerging economies. This study suggests that budgeting documents and procedures can be used to overcome the complexities of the PBC monitoring functions. Budgeting is, therefore, essential in the monitoring functions of the PBC, especially in emerging economies.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the understanding of the role of budgeting in monitoring functions in a parliamentary setting in emerging economies, where such research is lacking. The study also contributes by introducing an “ammunition” role to the theoretical literature on budget use (Simons, 1990, 1991; Abernethy and Brownell, 1999), which is argued to be relevant to politicians and organizations of a political nature, including parliaments.
The emergence of halal food industry in non-Muslim countries: a case study of Thailand
Authors: Mohd Nawawi Mohd Saiful Anwar , Abu-Hussin Mohd Fauzi , Faid Muhamad Syazwan , Pauzi Norhidayah , Man Saadan , Mohd Sabri Noratiqah
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The paper aims to explore the development of the halal industry in Thailand. It endeavours to investigate the main factors behind the country’s success as one of the largest exporters of halal-certified foods and products in the Southeast Asian region, in spite of the fact that Thailand is a non-Muslim-majority country. Only 4.3 per cent of the 69-million population of Thailand is Muslims.

Design/methodology/approach

In articulating the issue objectively, qualitative research method was adopted. This paper used structured literature study by analysing various subjects of halal pertaining to Thailand’s halal sector. At the same time, several in-depth interviews with the corresponding halal authorities in Thailand, as well as site visits, were also conducted. We also undertook observations in several sites in Thailand to analyse the issue further.

Findings

Findings from the research show that the strong presence of Thailand in the global halal industry is because of its bustling tourism industry that helps to bolster the country’s halal branding, its uniformity of halal definition and standards and effective support to the local SMEs.

Practical implications

This research implies that the standardisation of halal in a country is imperative in the Muslim-majority or Muslim-minority countries. This study gives a benchmark for the non-Muslim-majority countries which endeavour to embark on the halal industry. Muslim-minority counties that envision to succeed in the global halal market could emulate Thailand’s approach in branding itself as a recognised non-Muslim-majority country in producing certified halal foods and products.

Originality/value

The paper provides guidelines and standards for Muslim-minority countries that envision success in the global halal market.
The digitally preserved old-aged art, culture and artists
Authors: Wani Showkat Ahmad , Ali Asifa , Ganaie Shabir Ahmad
Published: August 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the Google Arts and Culture platform in terms of parameters used for categorizing the digital collections by it; the total number of items and their types; top contributing artists; top ten historical events and figures; and the top ten countries having maximum artworks.

Design/methodology/approach

An online method was used to collect the relevant data for achieving the objectives of the study. Data were harvested from the official website of Google Arts and Culture (https://artsandculture.google.com/) during the period of 15 May to 31 May 2018, and the same was tabulated in MS Excel for analysis and interpretation.

Findings

The findings revealed that Google Arts and Culture includes a total of 6,272 artists, 228 media and 121 art movements. Moreover, there are a total of 641 historical movements; 6,250 historical figures; 9,692 places; 3,226 museum views; 1,702 zoom views; 39,607 featured videos; and 5,528 featured stories; 122 items organized by color and 954 organized by time.

Originality/value

The present study is first of its kind that focuses on exploration of diverse arts and cultural heritages of different countries and by diverse artists made visible by Google Arts and Culture initiative. It will significantly reinforce the art and cultural heritage lovers to acquire the knowledge pertinent to various types of arts and cultures that prevailed in antiquity across the globe and also make aware the conservators about how to use digital technologies for efficient preservation and visibility of unique artworks, artists and the places whom they belong.
Pre-service teachers and religion
Authors: Ames Colton T.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide teacher educators with a foundation for including religion in multicultural education classes. In doing so, they can foster more robust discussions of religion and its implications for equity and justice in K-12 classrooms.

Design/methodology/approach

This piece was adapted from the religion unit that the author designed for the multicultural education course, and is the combination of the author’s expertise in religious studies, and curriculum and instruction.

Findings

As a practice piece, this paper is meant to start discussions and reflections for teacher educators as to how we can better address religion when discussing multicultural education, and the implications of equity, diversity and social justice in the classroom.

Originality/value

The author hopes that this piece will contribute to a growing field of literature on how to foster discussions of religion in teacher education and K-12 classrooms. As a former religious studies educator, the author hopes to offer a perspective that combines the fields of curriculum and religious studies to create a more robust relationship that will foster democratic and civic engagement.
Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging features of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma and tufted angioma
Authors: Gong Xia , Ying Hanru , Zhang Zimin , Wang Lizhen , Li Jia , Ding Angang , Zhou Lu , Lin Xiaoxi , Xiong Ping
Published: August 2019

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) and tufted angioma (TA) primarily occurring in infants are difficult to distinguish. This study evaluated ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of KHE and TA. Pathologically proven TA (n = 21) and KHE (n = 40 [11 KHE + Kasabach–Merritt phenomenon [KMP]]) occurring between January 2015 and December 2017 were reviewed. US (n = 61) and MRI (n = 50) findings were retrospectively evaluated. On US, KHE and TA lesions were subcutaneous, while 40% of KHE exhibited an infiltrative pattern extending into adjacent muscles. Of TA lesions, 42.9% were hyperechoic and 96.15% of KHE lesions exhibited mixed echogenicity. Of TA lesions, 76.2% exhibited well‐defined margins and all KHE lesions exhibited ill‐defined margins. The depth and vascular density of KHE and KHE + KMP were significantly increased compared with TA. The arterial peak systolic blood flow velocity of KHE + KMP was significantly higher than that in TA and KHE. KHE and KHE + KMP were significantly harder than TA on elastography. 3‐D color Doppler revealed branch‐shape blood flow for KHE and KHE + KMP lesions; for TA, it revealed a dot‐like and striped pattern. Considering MRI findings, KHE and KHE + KMP were more likely to exhibit diffuse heterogeneous enhancement after contrast than TA. KHE was infiltrative and more likely to be thick, hypoechoic, ill‐defined, richly vascular and hard than TA on US. KHE lesions were subcutaneous and reticular, with heterogeneous enhancement on MRI. Awareness of these features should prompt radiologists in the differential diagnosis of pediatric masses.
Responsibility, planning and risk management: moralizing everyday finance through financial education
Authors: Maman Daniel , Rosenhek Zeev
Published: August 2019

The individualization, privatization and marketization of risk management represent a fundamental dimension of the financialization of everyday life. As individuals are required to engage with financial products and services as the main way of protecting themselves from risks and uncertainties, their economic welfare and security are construed as depending largely on their own financial decisions. Within this setting, the concept of financial literacy and accompanying practices of financial education have emerged as a prominent institutional field handling the formulation and communication of the attributes and dispositions that arguably constitute the proper financial actor. This article analyzes financial education programmes currently conducted by state agencies in Israel, examining the notions and principles they articulate when defining and explaining proper financial conduct. The study indicates that moral themes and categories occupy a salient place in the formulation of the character traits that constitute the desired literate financial actor. Notions of individual responsibility, planning ahead and rational risk management are presented not merely as instrumental resources, but as moral imperatives. Through these notions, the programmes moralize a broad array of everyday practices of personal finance such as saving, investing, borrowing and budget management, thereby connecting the sphere of financial matters to the domain of moral virtues. Offering a representation of particular modes of financial conduct as constitutive components of morally virtuous personhood, these practices imbue the financial field as a whole, especially its current generalized logic of individualized and marketized risk management, with moral meanings, hence contributing to the normalization and depoliticization of the financialization of everyday life.
Improving the precision and accuracy of animal population estimates with aerial image object detection
Authors: Eikelboom Jasper A. J. , Wind Johan , van de Ven Eline , Kenana Lekishon M. , Schroder Bradley , de Knegt Henrik J. , van Langevelde Frank , Prins Herbert H. T.
Published: August 2019

Animal population sizes are often estimated using aerial sample counts by human observers, both for wildlife and livestock. The associated methods of counting remained more or less the same since the 1970s, but suffer from low precision and low accuracy of population estimates.

Aerial counts using cost‐efficient Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or microlight aircrafts with cameras and an automated animal detection algorithm can potentially improve this precision and accuracy. Therefore, we evaluated the performance of the multi‐class convolutional neural networkRetinaNetin detecting elephants, giraffes and zebras in aerial images from two Kenyan animal counts.

The algorithm detected 95% of the number of elephants, 91% of giraffes and 90% of zebras that were found by four layers of human annotation, of which it correctly detected an extra 2.8% of elephants, 3.8% giraffes and 4.0% zebras that were missed by all humans, while detecting only 1.6 to 5.0 false positives per true positive. Furthermore, the animal detections by the algorithm were less sensitive to the sighting distance than humans were.

With such a high recall and precision, we posit it is feasible to replace manual aerial animal count methods (from images and/or directly) by only the manual identification of image bounding boxes selected by the algorithm and then use a correction factor equal to the inverse of the undercounting bias in the calculation of the population estimates. This correction factor causes the standard error of the population estimate to increase slightly compared to a manual method, but this increase can be compensated for when the sampling effort would increase by 23%. However, an increase in sampling effort of 160% to 1,050% can be attained with the same expenses for equipment and personnel using our proposed semi‐automatic method compared to a manual method. Therefore, we conclude that our proposed aerial count method will improve the accuracy of population estimates and will decrease the standard error of population estimates by 31% to 67%. Most importantly, this animal detection algorithm has the potential to outperform humans in detecting animals from the air when supplied with images taken at a fixed rate.
New robust weighted averaging‐ and model‐based methods for assessing trait–environment relationships
Authors: ter Braak Cajo J. F.
Published: August 2019

Statistical analysis of trait–environment association is challenging owing to the lack of a common observation unit: Community‐weighted mean regression (CWMr) uses site points, multilevel models focus on species points, and the fourth‐corner correlation uses all species‐site combinations. This situation invites the development of new methods capable of using all observation levels. To this end, new multilevel and weighted averaging‐based regression methods are proposed.

Compared to existing methods, the new multilevel method, called MLM3, has additional site‐related random effects; they represent the unknowns in the environment that interact with the trait. The new weighted averaging method combines site‐level CWMr with a species‐level regression of Species Niche Centroids on to the trait. Because species can vary enormously in frequency and abundance giving diversity variation among sites, the regressions are weighted by Hill's effective number (N2) of occurrences of each species and the N2‐diversity of a site, and are subsequently combined in a sequential test procedure known as the max test.

Using the test statistics of these new methods, the permutation‐based max test provides strong statistical evidence for trait–environment association in a plant community dataset, where existing methods show weak evidence. In simulations, the existing multilevel model showed bias and type I error inflation, whereas MLM3 did not. Out of the weighted averaging‐based regression methods, the N2‐weighted version best controlled the type I error rate. MLM3 was superior to the weighted averaging‐based methods with up to 30% more power.

Both methods can be extended (a) to account for phylogeny and spatial autocorrelation and (b) to select functional traits and environmental variables from a greater set of variables.
Sex differences in cocaine self‐administration behaviour under long access versus intermittent access conditions
Authors: Algallal Hajer , Allain Florence , Ndiaye Ndeye Aissatou , Samaha Anne‐Noël
Published: August 2019

Studies in humans suggest that women progress more rapidly from initial cocaine use to addiction. Similarly, female rats can show more incentive motivation for cocaine than male rats do. Most preclinical studies on this issue have used self‐administration procedures that provide continuous cocaine access during each session (“long‐access” or LgA and “short‐access”). However, intermittent access (IntA) cocaine self‐administration better models the intermittency of human cocaine use. Here, we compared cocaine use in female and male rats that received ten, daily 6‐hour LgA or IntA sessions. Cocaine intake was greatest under LgA, and female LgA rats escalated their intake. Only IntA rats (both sexes) developed locomotor sensitization to self‐administered cocaine, and sensitization was greatest in females. Five and 25 days after the last self‐administration session, we quantified responding for cocaine (0.083‐0.75 mg/kg/infusion) under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule, a measure of motivation for drug. Across conditions, females earned more cocaine infusions than males under the PR schedule. Across sexes, IntA rats earned more infusions than LgA rats, even though IntA rats had previously taken much less cocaine. Cumulative cocaine intake significantly predicted responding for cocaine under the PR schedule in male LgA rats only. In IntA rats, the extent of locomotor sensitization significantly predicted responding under the PR schedule. Thus, LgA might be appropriate to study sex differences in cocaine intake, whereas IntA might be best suited to study sex differences in sensitization‐related neuroadaptations involved in cocaine addiction. This has implications for modelling distinct features of cocaine addiction in preclinical studies.
Atopic dermatitis in adults: An Australian management consensus
Authors: Smith Saxon , Baker Christopher , Gebauer Kurt , Rubel Diana , Frankum Brad , Soyer H. Peter , Weightman Warren , Sladden Michael , Rawlin Morton , Headley Alexander P. , Somerville Colin , Beuth Julie , Logan Nick , Mewton Erin , Foley Peter
Published: August 2019

Background/Objectives

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has significant negative impact on health‐related quality of life, mood, sleep, work productivity and everyday activities. Research into the use of new drugs in the management of AD continues to develop, and international updates and recommendations have been published. However, questions remain in the Australian setting. This consensus aims to provide evidence‐based insights and practical advice on the management of adult AD in Australia.

Methods

A panel (five dermatologists and one clinical immunologist) met to review the literature, critically examine clinical questions of relevance to Australian healthcare practitioners and develop a series of recommendation statements. A consensus panel, comprising the initial panel plus nine additional members, used a 2‐round Delphi voting process to determine a set of final guidance statements. Consensus: ≥75% agreement in the range 7–9.

Results

Round 1 voting comprised 66 guidance statements. Of these, consensus was reached on 26, which were retained, and five were removed. The remainder (35) were modified and one new guidance statement was added for inclusion in round 2 voting. After round 2, consensus was reached on 35, which were retained, and one was removed (considered redundant). The 61 guidance statements upon which consensus was reached were then used to support a series of core consensus recommendations and a management flow chart.

Conclusions

Expert consensus recommendations providing practical guidance of clinical relevance to specialists and primary care physicians in Australia have been developed. Dissemination of this guidance and evaluation of its impact on patient outcomes remain to be undertaken.
Review article: can bugs be drugs? The potential of probiotics and prebiotics as treatment for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Koopman Nienke , Molinaro Antonio , Nieuwdorp Max , Holleboom Adriaan G.
Published: August 2019

Background

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver condition. A major current research effort is ongoing to find potential strategies to treat NAFLD‐non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), with special attention to the gut microbiota. Multiple animal studies and pilot clinical trials are assessing different gut microbiota modulating strategies such as faecal microbiota transplantation, antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics.

Aim

To review the role of microbiota in NAFLD‐NASH and determine whether pro‐ and prebiotics have potential as treatment

Methods

Information was obtained from critically reviewing literature on PubMed on targeting the gut microbiota in NAFLD. Search terms included NAFLD, NASH, non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, steatohepatitis; combined with microbiome, microbiota, gut bacteria, probiotics and prebiotics.

Results

Animal studies and the first emerging studies in humans show promising results for both the common probiotics Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococci as for short chain fatty acid (SCFA) butyrate‐producing bacteria. Also, prebiotics have positive effects on different mechanisms underlying NAFLD‐NASH.

Conclusions

The most promising strategies thus far developed to alter the microbiome in NAFLD‐NASH are probiotics and prebiotics. However, pre‐ and probiotic treatment of NAFLD‐NASH is relatively new and still under development. Actual understanding of the involved mechanisms is lacking and changes in the intestinal microbiota composition after treatment are rarely measured. Furthermore, large clinical trials with comparative endpoints are unavailable. Personalised treatment based on metagenomics gut microbiota analysis will probably be part of the future diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD‐NASH.