bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melanoma arising in a patient with ataxia‐telangiectasia: A call for full skin examinations in this patient population
Authors: Oska Sandra , Zarbo Allison , Yeager Danielle , Friedman Ben J. , Shwayder Tor
Published: May 2020

Ataxia‐telangiectasia (A‐T) is an autosomal recessive, multisystem disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia and oculocutaneous telangiectasias that present in early childhood. Increased incidence of malignancy is also associated with A‐T. Hematopoietic malignancies occur most commonly, with a majority being lymphoid cancers; however, there is a risk for other malignancies, such as breast, gastric, and other solid tumors. Herein, we report the case of a 28‐year‐old woman with A‐T with melanoma.
Mediastinal and hilar soft tissue mass‐like lesions in congenital unilateral pulmonary vein atresia: A retrospective review of seven pediatric patients
Authors: Okamoto Reiko , Miyazaki Osamu , Aoki Hidekazu , Tsutsumi Yoshiyuki , Miyasaka Mikiko , Hoshiai Minako , Nosaka Shunsuke
Published: May 2020

Background

Congenital unilateral pulmonary vein atresia (CUPVA) is known to lead to the formation of an abnormal confluent mediastinal and hilar soft tissue mass, thoracic hypoplasia, and interlobular septal thickening on the affected side. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the frequency and severity of mediastinal soft tissue mass‐like lesions and examine other abnormal findings associated with CUPVA.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed seven children with CUPVA who underwent contrast‐enhanced CT scans and measured the soft tissue mass volume in the bilateral mediastinum (affected and normal side). The location of abnormal soft tissue was divided into three anatomical sections (paratracheal, peribronchial, and the dorsal aspect of the left atrium). The relationships among soft tissue volume and anatomical section were statistically evaluated. Also, the presence of thoracic hypoplasia, small ipsilateral pulmonary arteries, interlobular septal thickening, and ground‐glass opacities were investigated.

Results

In all cases, CT scans confirmed the presence of confluent soft tissue mass‐like lesions in the affected mediastinum. The soft tissue volume on the affected side was 5.5‐fold greater than the volume on the normal side (average: 18.0 cm3 and 4.25 cm3 respectively, P < 0.01). Thoracic hypoplasia and interlobular septal thickening were found in all patients. Small pulmonary arteries and ground‐glass opacities were present in six of the seven patients.

Conclusion

Abnormal mediastinal and hilar soft tissue is commonly found in patients with CUPVA. So, if we encounter the mediastinal soft tissue mass in patients with CUPVA, no further test will be indicated.
Induction regimens and post‐transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder after pediatric intestinal transplantation: Single‐center experience
Authors: Devine Kaitlin , Ranganathan Sarangarajan , Mazariegos George , Bond Geoffrey , Soltys Kyle , Ganoza Armando , Sun Qing , Sindhi Rakesh
Published: May 2020

Pediatric recipients of intestinal transplants have a high incidence of PTLD, but the impact of specific induction immunosuppression agents is unclear. In this single‐center retrospective review from 2000 to 2017, we describe the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of PTLD after primary intestinal transplantation in 173 children with or without liver, after induction with rATG, alemtuzumab, or anti‐IL‐2R agents. Thirty cases of PTLD occurred among 28 children, 28 EBV+ and 2 EBV−. Although not statistically significant, the PTLD incidence was higher after isolated intestinal transplant compared with liver‐inclusive allograft (19.3% vs 13.3%, P = .393) and after induction with anti‐IL‐2R antibody and alemtuzumab compared with rATG (28.6% and 27.3% vs 13.3%, P = .076). The 30 PTLD cases included 13 monomorphic PTLD, 13 polymorphic PTLD, one spindle cell, one Burkitt lymphoma, and two cases too necrotic to classify. After reduction of immunosuppression, management was based on disease histology and extent. Resection with or without rituximab was used for polymorphic tumors and limited disease extent, whereas chemotherapy was used for diffuse disease. Of the 28 patients, 11 recovered with functioning allografts (39.3%), 10 recovered after enterectomy (35.7%), and seven patients died (25%), three due to PTLD and four due to other causes. All who died of progressive PTLD had received chemotherapy, highlighting the mortality of PTLD, toxicity of treatment and need for novel agents. Alemtuzumab is no longer used for induction at our center.
Conversion from tacrolimus to sirolimus as a treatment modality in de novo allergies and immune‐mediated disorders in pediatric liver transplant recipients
Authors: Kehar Mohit , Grunebaum Eyal , Jimenez‐Rivera Carolina , Mozer‐Glassberg Yael , Jamal Alisha , Ng Vicky Lee , Avitzur Yaron
Published: May 2020

De novo PTAID may develop in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients, have a diverse spectrum, and are occasionally treatment resistant. Previous reports showed resolution of immune cytopenias in solid organ transplant recipients following replacement of the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus with the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus. Herein we describe a retrospective review (2000‐2017) of subjects who developed PTAID in whom immunosuppression was changed to sirolimus. Eight recipients (6 males) of either liver (n = 7) or multivisceral transplant (n = 1) suffered from severe, treatment‐resistant PTAID and were switched from tacrolimus to sirolimus. The median age at transplant was 1 year (range 0.5‐2.4 years). Six (75%) recipients developed de novo allergy and 2 immune‐mediated diseases. The median age at presentation of PTAID was 2.7 (1.4‐9) years at a median of 1.3 (0.25‐8) years after transplantation. The median time from PTAID presentation to conversion to sirolimus was 1.8 (0.45‐10) years. Complete resolution of symptoms was seen in 4 (50%) patients after a median of 12 (range 4‐24) months including 2 patients with immune‐mediated disease, 1 eczema, and 1 with eosinophilic colitis. One patient with multiple food allergies had a partial response and 3 (38%) had no response. None of the 8 recipients developed sirolimus‐attributed adverse events or acute rejection during a median follow‐up of 5 (0.6‐8) years after the conversion. Immunosuppression conversion from tacrolimus to sirolimus can be an effective therapy in patients suffering severe or treatment‐resistant PTAID, suggesting a potential role for tacrolimus in the pathogenesis of PTAID.
Treprostinil improves hemodynamics and symptoms in children with mild pulmonary hypertension awaiting heart transplantation
Authors: Hollander Seth A. , Ogawa Michelle T. , Hopper Rachel K. , Liu Esther , Chen Sharon , Rosenthal David N. , Feinstein Jeffrey A.
Published: May 2020

Background

Treprostinil, a prostacyclin analog, is a safe and effective therapy for children with PAH; however, the use of this agent in children with mild PVR elevations related to HF, including those with SV congenital heart disease awaiting HT, is understudied. We describe the hemodynamic and symptomatic changes in pediatric patients awaiting HT treated with treprostinil.

Methods

Single‐center retrospective review of all patients was listed for HT who received treprostinil during the listing period. Changes in hemodynamic and functional indices between the baseline catheterization (prior to drug initiation), and prior to HT, and patient outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Among 16/17 (94%) who survived to HT, 8 (50%) were female, and 10 (63%) had SV physiology. The median age at drug initiation was 9 (IQR: 1, 14) years. The median duration of therapy prior to HT was 253 (IQR: 148, 504) days. Treprostinil significantly decreased PVR (3.8 vs 3.1 WU, P = .03), while mLA or mPCW pressure did not change (11 vs 13 mm Hg, P = .9). HF symptoms improved in 9/15 (60%) patients without VAD support prior to drug initiation, including 4/10 (40%) who did not receive a VAD any point while awaiting HT.

Conclusions

Treprostinil may be used safely in patients with mild PAH awaiting HT, including those with SV disease. PVR falls without substantial increases in mLA/mPCW pressure. HF symptoms improve in some patients.
Truth and Reconciliation as a Model for Change in Response to #MeToo
Authors: Colvin Roddrick A. , Blount‐Hill Kwan‐Lamar
Published: May 2020

The U.S. criminal justice system is designed to handle extreme cases of sexual misconduct, but the system has not adapted well to less extreme (but no less important) sexually inappropriate behaviors. As our understanding of sexual misconduct and impropriety evolves, the need for a new system of accountability seems apparent. The authors call for a new approach to providing justice for survivors/victims: the adoption of a truth and reconciliation model. This model involves providing a public forum for survivors/victims to testify to the events of their victimization and for offenders to admit previous wrongdoing, take responsibility, and ask forgiveness. While it is not appropriate for handling illegal behaviors, a truth and reconciliation model would be ideal for incidents that are not illegal but violate our evolving social norms.
Collective Bargaining during Times of Crisis: Recommendations from the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Fay Daniel L. , Ghadimi Adela
Published: May 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic dramatically changed employment across sectors in 2020. This Viewpoint essay examines public sector labor relations during the pandemic and describes the impact bargaining process that is used to protect public employees. The authors draw on their own experience with impact bargaining negotiations and the public labor relations, conflict management, and civil service reform literatures to develop recommendations for public union labor leaders during times of crisis. They suggest that public unions have an important role in crisis management but must act strategically to develop good working relationships with leadership and successfully negotiate employee protections in uncertain times.
International migration of entrepreneurs and the emergence of economic development traps
Authors: Fan Zhaobin , Anwar Sajid
Published: May 2020

This paper examines the link between the emigration of entrepreneurs and the emergence of economic development traps, which has not received much attention in the existing literature. We develop a theoretical model, where the economy is divided into a traditional and a modern sector. Entrepreneurs establish firms in the modern sector to produce varieties of differentiated goods. Positive spillover effects exist in the modern sector. We show that the emigration of entrepreneurs can cause economic development traps, where the productivity of the modern sector remains low, and more importantly, the economy is stuck in the traditional structure. In the typical case, the development traps exhibit strong history dependence. Under certain conditions, regardless of the initial endowment of entrepreneurs, economic development traps are unavoidable. By examining the effect of government policy intervention to correct the market failure arising from spillover effects, our study also provides a theoretical foundation for government policies used by some developed countries to attract foreign entrepreneurs.
Preschoolers exhibit greater on‐task behavior following physically active lessons on the approximate number system
Authors: McGowan Amanda L. , Ferguson David P. , Gerde Hope K. , Pfeiffer Karin A. , Pontifex Matthew B.
Published: May 2020

Objective

To determine how the dual‐task nature of incorporating physical activity with instructional activities immediately impacts acuity of the approximate number system and on‐task behavior in preschoolers.

Methods

Using a randomized within‐participants repeated‐measures crossover design, 51 children completed an approximate number system task before and after either 20‐min of physically active instruction corresponding to 38% heart rate reserve (HRR; light‐to‐moderate intensity) or conventional sedentary instruction at corresponding to 21% HRR (very light intensity).

Results

Findings revealed that preschool‐aged children exhibited similar learning and greater on‐task behavior following a single bout of physically active instruction relative to conventional sedentary instruction. Overall, preschoolers accrued 931.3 ± 8.2 more steps and an additional 9 minutes at or above light‐intensity activity during the physically active instruction.

Conclusion

Accordingly, these findings suggest that the dual‐task nature of physically active learning does not compromise learning, reduces the need for redirecting off‐task behavior, and ultimately allows children to avoid sedentary behavior in educational contexts.
Safety nets in (the) crisis: The case of Greece in the 2010s
Authors: Matsaganis Manos
Published: May 2020

This paper deals with the question of how the social safety net in Greece responded to, and was transformed by, the social emergency of the 2010s. The outbreak of the Eurozone crisis caught Greek welfare woefully unprepared for what was to come. Thereafter, as the recession fuelled the “demand” for social protection, the austerity reduced its “supply.” Nevertheless, this is not a straightforward case of austerity predictably causing welfare retrenchment or dismantling. Stringent budgets and policy inertia did result in reduced provision and diminished capacity to protect. Yet significant progress towards a less parochial and more effective social safety net also took place. The paper is an attempt to bring out the complexity and contradictions of recent developments. It concludes that the system of social protection that has emerged from the crisis is undoubtedly leaner, less robust in core policy areas such as pensions and health, but also more effective in protecting against extreme poverty than ever before.
An ‘authentic’ Aboriginal product: State marketing and the self‐fashioning of Indigenous experiences to Chinese tourists
Authors: Boag Courtney J. , Martin Richard J. , Bell Damein
Published: May 2020

China's burgeoning outbound tourist market has become a priority for Australian tourism, with national and state tourism reports advocating for ‘China‐ready’ marketing, policy and planning and increased industry training around Chinese consumer behaviour and preferences to capitalise on this market. However, studies demonstrate that Chinese tourists are generally not interested in Indigenous tourism experiences. Nevertheless, the state of Victoria is adamant about investing in Indigenous‐themed tourism products which are considered appropriate for Chinese preferences in an attempt to attract tourists from this growing inbound market. This article presents a review of relevant state government policies relating to Indigenous tourism alongside a case study of the tourism experiences developed and provided by Gunditjmara people along the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape in southwest Victoria. We demonstrate the ways that notions of ‘authenticity’ continue to shape, and constrain, Indigenous economic engagement and participation via tourism, and discuss the impact of these notions on the provision of Indigenous tourism products and experiences for Chinese and other visitors. We argue that the marketing of Gunditjmara tourism to fluctuating market demand highlights the arbitrariness of Australian governments' policies with respect to Indigenous development, and call for policymakers to focus renewed attention on the local aspirations of Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Mind the gap: Encountering contemporary art through play
Authors: Scott David J.
Published: May 2020

Knowing how to approach and experience contemporary art is a challenge to many people outside the art world. Emerging contemporary art, as the newest of this genre, is often the most challenging. This article recounts my own early struggles as a researcher in this field, and proposes a way of understanding the interaction between artist, artwork and perceiver based on my observations of how contemporary artists encounter each others' work. I argue that contemporary art, and especially emerging contemporary art, creates a space to play by creating an intentional gap in the physical form and/or the semantic structure of the artwork. The object of play is the co‐investigation of an idea initiated by the artist, facilitated by the form of the work and furthered by the encounter. Play, it is argued, is essential to emerging contemporary art as an activity, a communicative frame and a disposition. I draw from earlier theoretical connections between art, play and liberation, challenging some of these assertions, and bringing others into relevance in the contemporary context.
Pasifika diaspora connectivity and continuity with Pacific homelands: Material culture and spatial behaviour in Brisbane
Authors: Faleolo Ruth (Lute)
Published: May 2020

This paper presents an interesting discussion and analysis of Pasifika (specifically Tongan and Samoan) migrants in Brisbane, and the diverse adaptive cultural practices they use to promote a sense of wellbeing and cultural continuity in diaspora contexts. Pacific Island migrant perspectives of wellbeing and worldviews are linked to their spatial behaviour and material cultural adaptations within places like Brisbane. The characteristics of the Brisbane urban landscape create the material cultural adaptations that have been observed in diaspora contexts, including places of dwelling, community and church gatherings. They are commonly displayed during family or community events, in both private and public spaces. In order to understand the significance of material cultural adaptations we must also consider the underpinnings of the materials and templates used within context. Preliminary qualitative findings have been drawn from a wider‐scale research project that has explored Pasifika migrants (of Samoan and Tongan descent) perceptions and experiences of wellbeing during 2015‒2018. This inquiry has rendered significant evidence of cultural values and identity elements originating from Samoa and Tonga and retained by generations of Brisbane‐based Pacific Islanders, through adapted material culture and shared spatial behaviour.
Indexical Signs and Artistic, Political and Historical Complexity
Authors: Malagón‐kurka María Margarita , Echeverri Clemencia , Franco Beatriz Eugenia Vallejo
Published: May 2020

Artists, political scientists and art historians share with other professionals the challenge of apprehending and comprehending the complexity of the realities they address in their work. The co‐authors of our article coincide in the prominence they give to disturbing indexical signs (i.e., indications and traces of trauma and normalization in people, in political processes and works of art), as keys of interpretation and problematizing at the basis of their art works, their social work and their historic and political research. They address the challenges and questions they face when interacting with the multiple dimensions inherent to the complex human behaviours, theoretical concepts and artistic statements on which they focus. Finally, they discuss possible aesthetic, ethical and philosophical implications of their proposals and perspectives.
Pathogen‐specific risk of seizure in children with moderate‐to‐severe diarrhoea: Case control study with follow‐up
Authors: Afroze Farzana , Das Sumon Kumar , Ahmed Shahnawaz , Sarmin Monira , Shaly Nusrat Jahan , Khan Soroar Hossain , Shahid Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayeem Bin , Shahrin Lubaba , Saha Haimanti , Alam Tahmina , Faruque Abu Syed Golam , Shahunja K. M. , Chisti Mohammod Jobayer , Ahmed Tahmeed
Published: May 2020

Objective

To determine the pathogen‐specific risk of seizure in under‐five children hospitalised with moderate‐to‐severe diarrhoea (MSD) in rural settings.

Method

This was a prospective case–control study with follow‐up, conducted in a sentinel facility of Global Enteric Multicenter Study in Mirzapur, a rural community of Bangladesh between 2007 and 2010. Children aged 0–59 months who presented with MSD and seizure constituted the cases whereas those who did not have seizure comprised the controls. MSD was defined if the episodes were associated with dehydration or dysentery or required hospitalisation with diarrhoea or dysentery. All enrolled children were followed up at home within 50–90 days of enrolment. A total of 64 cases and 128 randomly selected controls formed the analysable dataset.

Results

The result of logistic regression analysis after adjusting for potential confounders revealed that shigellosis (Shigella species, OR = 5.34, 95% CI = 2.37–12.04) particularly S. flexneri (OR = 3.34, 95% CI = 1.48–7.57), S. flexneri 6 (OR = 23.24, 95% CI = 2.79–193.85), S. sonnei (OR = 6.90, 95% CI = 2.34–19.85); norovirus (OR = 6.77, 95% CI = 1.69–27.11), fever (OR = 16.75, 95% CI = 1.81–154.70) and loss of consciousness (OR = 35.25, 95% CI = 1.71–726.20) were the independent risk factors for seizure in MSD children. At enrolment, cases had lower WHZ (P = 0.006) compared to their peers, follow‐up anthropometrics showed significant improvement in WHZ (P < 0.001) and WAZ (P < 0.05), whereas deterioration in HAZ (P < 0.001) in both cases and controls.

Conclusion

Childhood MSD episodes particularly due to Shigella and norovirus are often associated with seizure. Prompt identification and appropriate management of children with shigellosis may reduce occurrence and adverse consequences of seizure linked with MSD.
On breweries and bioreactors: Probing the “present futures” of cellular agriculture
Authors: Jönsson Erik
Published: May 2020

Set against the attention given to animal‐agricultural geographies and animal agriculture's environmental impacts, proponents of cultured meat (i.e., biomass cultured from cells) and genetic modification‐based “cellular‐agricultural” technologies today promise that the production of animal products could become more sustainable if animals were taken out of the equation. Though future visions for such a shift have often centred on how much land could be saved through the deployment of new biotechnologies, proponents and researchers today increasingly also foreground the future economic geographies and sites of production that these should engender. In this paper I explore such envisioned geographies, building on 24 interviews with cellular‐agricultural actors and on observations during meetings. Essentially echoing an ecomodernist embrace of the Anthropocene as a great opportunity, cellular‐agriculturalists frequently promise that the technologies they advocate should offer the possibility to unfetter the production of animal products from spatial constraints. (Post‐)animal products can now be produced anywhere. But in assuring that products and production processes should feel familiar, they frequently also describe a world where microbrewery‐like facilities and transparent production processes supplant industrialised animal agriculture's remote slaughterhouses. Hence, a kind of craft‐emphasising “recombinant” ecomodernism emerges. In exploring cellular‐agricultural future visions, my aim is not to determine whether, or which, particular visions might be realised. Rather, I centre on descriptions of future spaces of production and economic geographies in order to explore contemporary biotech boosterism. Engaging with these visions, as well as the often unchronicled creative destruction that they could entail, thus allows me to contribute to an emerging set of texts that scrutinise the current and intended political economy (and ecology) of cellular agriculture, as well as texts emphasising the necessity of pondering Anthropocene spatialities.
Inheritance of fomesafen and imazethapyr resistance in a multiple herbicide‐resistant Euphorbia heterophylla population
Authors: Brusamarello Antonio P. , Oliveira Paulo H. , Trezzi Michelangelo M. , Finatto Taciane , Pagnoncelli Fortunato D. B. , Vidal Ribas A.
Published: May 2020

Euphorbia heterophylla populations endued with resistance to both imazethapyr (an acetolactate synthase inhibitor) and fomesafen (a protoporphyrinogen oxidase inhibitor) were first detected in Brazil in 2004. The objectives of this study were to determine the number and dominance of genes conferring imazethapyr and fomesafen resistance in E. heterophylla and to establish the types of inheritance of the resistance traits. It was hypothesised that two dominant nuclear genes control this herbicide resistance and each gene confers resistance to a single herbicide. We crossed a susceptible (S) and a multiple‐resistant (R) E. heterophylla biotype and generated F1 families which, in turn, were self‐fertilised to produce F2 families. Backcrosses of the F1 families with the S‐ and R parental biotypes resulted in BCs and BCr families respectively. The F1, F2, BCs and BCr families and the S and R parental biotypes were subjected to imazethapyr and fomesafen wherein each herbicide was used as a selecting agent. F1 plants and the S‐ and R parental biotypes were used to evaluate the dominance of the resistance trait in multiple‐dose bioassays with imazethapyr and fomesafen. The observed frequencies of resistant plants in the F1, F2, BCs and BCr families did not significantly differ from the expected frequencies for a resistance trait regulated by two dominant genes in which each gene confers resistance to a single herbicide. The lack of difference in herbicide response between the F1 family and the R parental biotype was taken as evidence for completely dominant resistance to imazethapyr and fomesafen. Herbicide resistance in E. heterophylla presents with dominant monogenic nuclear inheritance for each herbicide mode of action. Our findings underscore the necessity and urgency of adopting integrated strategies to control E. heterophylla and to inhibit the evolution of new herbicide‐resistant strains.
Role of Financial Innovation in Enhancing MSMES Access to Credit: An Empirical Investigation on Tanzania
Authors: Mbowe Wilfred E. , Shirima Fredrick R. , Kimolo Deogratius
Published: May 2020

This study assesses the extent to which financial innovations contribute to improving micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access to credit in Tanzania. Information was collected through interviews using a structured questionnaire administered on a sample of 318 respondents. Probit estimates were used for robustness check of the factors that influence MSMEs borrowing behavior.The findings indicate that factors, which influence MSMEs to borrow money through innovative channels, comprise the need for meeting business start-up, operational and expansion costs. Other factors are in respect of ease of access; convenience; short loan process; and a relatively high degree of control of the loan process by the borrower. In contrast to progress made in improving access to financial services by MSMEs, loan access by individuals or businesses through innovative platforms is still low. Only 28.8 percent acknowledged having received loans through innovative platforms, and coefficient on innovation variable was found to be statistically insignificant. Explaining this anomaly include unfavorable terms of loans; high lending rates, inadequate knowledge; small-size loans; and short repayment period. Meanwhile, loan process time, loan size, loan access (distance) have a higher probability of increasing loan access by MSMEs.Therefore, there is a need to intensify measures towards enhancing MSMEs access to credit, taking advantage of available innovative platform channels. Increasing efforts towards reducing credit risk will help to lower the lending rates, while moral suasion measures by financial regulators together with borrowers’ traceable business-record can as well entice loan providers to offer loans of larger size and longer maturity. Meanwhile, capacity building is imperative in enabling MSMEs to acquire requisite business management skills and inculcate record-keeping culture. Equally crucial is enhancing measures towards maintaining the country’s macro-economic stability with a view to boosting demand for credit and improving MSMEs’ loan repayment capabilities.
Exchange Rate Volatility and Its Implications on Macroeconomic Variables in East African Countries
Authors: Yabu Nicas , Kimolo Deogratius
Published: May 2020

The study examines the extent of exchange rate volatility and its impact on key macroeconomic variables such as exports, FDI inflows, interest rate and inflation in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The GARCH model is used to compute the extent of exchange rate volatility while the Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) technique or pooled mean group (PMG) estimator was used to estimate the effects of exchange rate volatility on selected macroeconomic variables. The results indicate that volatility in the exchange rate is a real issue in all the sampled countries and is fundamentally driven by exports and FDI dynamics for the period under consideration. The results indicate a positive impact of the exchange rate volatility to export performance and lending rates in the long run. Exchange rate volatility appears to be detrimental to both export performance and leads to a reduction in lending rates in the short run. Also, the response of FDI to exchange rate volatility seems to be negative in the long run while in the short run the response from the volatility of real exchange rate seems is insignificant. Though not significant, the volatility of the exchange rate appears to have a positive impact on inflation. The study recommends that policymakers need institute mitigation measures which could smooth out excessive exchange rate volatility to minimize its likely impact on the economy. The study also indicated a need for the EAC countries to consider adopting inflation targeting monetary policy framework in order to contain inflation at the appropriate level.
Supply Chain Management Systems and Curriculum Reviews: What Are We Teaching About Supply Chain Management Systems? Do We Need to Modify Our Curriculums?
Authors: Walden Joseph
Published: May 2020

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought the supply chain to the attention of everyone. In order to make supply chains work effectively and efficiently, a number of automated supply chain management systems are needed. This paper looks at the need to conduct curriculum reviews in order to ensure that the students in supply chain programs are not being harmed by the lack of exposure to the various systems needed in the supply chain. The analysis looks at the systems required for an Enterprise Certification compared to the systems reflected in a sample of supply chain management syllabi. The conclusions include the need to conduct curriculum reviews on a regular basis to ensure the best possible education of the students. This recommendation is critical for all education systems and not just supply chain management systems courses.
System Reliability Analysis With Second-Order Saddlepoint Approximation
Authors: Wu Hao , Du Xiaoping
Published: May 2020

The second-order saddlepoint approximation (SOSPA) has been used for component reliability analysis for higher accuracy than the traditional second-order reliability method (SORM). This work extends the second-order saddlepoint approximation (SPA) to system reliability analysis. The joint distribution of all the component responses is approximated by a multivariate normal distribution. To maintain high accuracy of the approximation, the proposed method employs the second-order SPA to accurately generate the marginal distributions of the component responses; to simplify computations and achieve high efficiency, the proposed method estimates the covariance matrix of the multivariate normal distribution with the first-order approximation to the component responses. Examples demonstrate the high effectiveness of the second-order SPA method for system reliability analysis.
Sliding Mode Control for Discrete-Time Chaotic Systems With Input Nonlinearity
Authors: Pai Ming-Chang
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a novel discrete-time sliding mode control (DSMC) for a general class of discrete-time chaotic systems with input nonlinearity and uncertainties. Unlike the conventional sliding mode control (SMC), the sliding surface is constructed by applying the eigenvalue assignment method to the overall system in discrete-time domain, not to the reduced system on the sliding mode in continue-time domain. The design of sliding surface and the existence of quasi-sliding mode are two significant issues, which have been addressed. The stability of the overall closed-loop system is guaranteed. In addition, the undesirable chattering phenomenon and the reaching phase are eliminated. Simulation results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Electro-Thermal Codesign Methodology of an On-Board Electric Vehicle Charger
Authors: Tayyara Omri , Silva Carlos Da , Nasr Miad , Assadi Amir , Gupta Kshitij , Trescases Olivier , Amon Cristina H.
Published: May 2020

Significant advances are needed to optimize the charging speed, reliability, safety, and cost of today's conservatively designed electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. The design and optimization of these novel engineering systems require concurrent consideration of thermal and electrical phenomena, as well as component and system level dynamics and control to guarantee reliable continuous operation, scalability, and minimum footprint. This work addresses the concurrent thermal and electrical design constraints in a high-density, on-board, bidirectional charger with vehicle-to-grid (V2G), grid-to-vehicle (G2V), vehicle-to-house (V2H), and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) power transfer capabilities. The electrical design of this charger consists of DC–DC and DC–AC power stages connected in series. The power-stage circuits are implemented on a printed circuit board (PCB) with 16 surface-mount silicon carbide MOSFETs, three inductors, and one transformer. The main goal of this work is to investigate the interplay between the cooling architecture and the PCB layout, and the corresponding impact on the heat dissipation and parasitic inductance. This work compares the performance of three generations of this multifunctional charger that employ different design methodologies and proposes high-level design guidelines derived from multiphysics simulations and experimental tests.
The extracellular matrix protein TasA is a developmental cue that maintains a motile subpopulation within
Bacillus subtilis
biofilms
Authors: Steinberg Nitai , Keren-Paz Alona , Hou Qihui , Doron Shany , Yanuka-Golub Keren , Olender Tsviya , Hadar Rotem , Rosenberg Gili , Jain Rakeshkumar , Cámara-Almirón Jesus , Romero Diego , van Teeffelen Sven , Kolodkin-Gal Ilana
Published: May 2020

The matrix protein TasA maintains a subpopulation of motile cells within
Bacillus subtilis
biofilms.
Chemokine CCL28 Is a Potent Therapeutic Agent for Oropharyngeal Candidiasis
Authors: He Jie , Thomas Monica A. , de Anda Jaime , Lee Michelle W. , Van Why Emma , Simpson Pippa , Wong Gerard C. L. , Grayson Mitchell H. , Volkman Brian F. , Huppler Anna R.
Published: May 2020

Candida albicans
is a commensal organism that causes life-threatening or life-altering opportunistic infections. Treatment of
Candida
infections is limited by the paucity of antifungal drug classes. Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides are promising agents for drug development. CCL28 is a CC chemokine that is abundant in saliva and has
in vitro
antimicrobial activity. In this study, we examine the
in vivo Candida
killing capacity of CCL28 in oropharyngeal candidiasis as well as the spectrum and mechanism of anti-
Candida
activity.
Amlodipine Increases the Therapeutic Potential of Ravuconazole upon Trypanosoma cruzi Infection
Authors: Machado Yara Almeida , Bahia Maria Terezinha , Caldas Ivo Santana , Mazzeti Ana Lia , Novaes Rômulo Dias , Vilas Boas Breno Raimundo , Santos Lorena Júnia de Souza , Martins-Filho Olindo Assis , Marques Marcos José , Diniz Lívia de Figueiredo
Published: May 2020

Mining existing agents that enhance the therapeutic potential of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors (EBI) is a promising approach to improve Chagas disease chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ravuconazole, an EBI, combined with amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, upon
Trypanosoma cruzi
experimental infection.
In vitro
assays confirmed the trypanocidal activity of both compounds in monotherapy and demonstrated an additive effect (sum of the fractional inhibitory concentration [ΣFIC] > 0.
A Sulfoglycolytic Entner-Doudoroff Pathway in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii SRDI565
Authors: Li Jinling , Epa Ruwan , Scott Nichollas E. , Skoneczny Dominik , Sharma Mahima , Snow Alexander J. D. , Lingford James P. , Goddard-Borger Ethan D. , Davies Gideon J. , McConville Malcolm J. , Williams Spencer J.
Published: May 2020

Sulfonate sulfur is a major form of organic sulfur in soils but requires biomineralization before it can be utilized by plants. Very little is known about the biochemical processes used to mobilize sulfonate sulfur. We show that a rhizobial isolate from soil,Rhizobium leguminosarumSRDI565, possesses the ability to degrade the abundant phototroph-derived carbohydrate sulfonate SQ through a sulfoglycolytic Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Proteomics and metabolomics demonstrated the utilization of this pathway during growth on SQ and provided evidence for gluconeogenesis. Unexpectedly, off-cycle sulfoglycolytic species were also detected, pointing to the complexity of metabolic processes within cells under conditions of sulfoglycolysis. Thus, rhizobial metabolism of the abundant sulfosugar SQ may contribute to persistence of the bacteria in the soil and to mobilization of sulfur in the pedosphere.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of the Brucella canis RM6/66 ΔvjbRVaccine Candidate for Protection against B. canis Infection in Mice
Authors: Stranahan Lauren W. , Chaki Sankar P. , Garcia-Gonzalez Daniel G. , Khalaf Omar H. , Arenas-Gamboa Angela M.
Published: May 2020

Canine brucellosis, caused byBrucella canis, is the primary cause of reproductive failure in dogs and represents a public health concern due to its zoonotic nature. Cases in dogs in the United States have been increasing due to the persistent nature of the bacterium, deficiencies in current diagnostic testing, and, most importantly, the lack of a protective vaccine. Current estimates place the seroprevalence ofB. canisin the southern United States at 7% to 8%, but with the unprecedented rates of animals moving across state and international borders and the lack of federal regulations in regard to testing, the true seroprevalence ofB. canisin the United States may very well be higher. Vaccination represents the most effective method of brucellosis control and, in response to the demand for a vaccine againstB. canis, we have developed the live attenuatedB. canisRM6/66 ΔvjbRvaccine strain capable of protecting mice against challenge.
Continental-Scale Microbiome Study Reveals Different Environmental Characteristics Determining Microbial Richness, Composition, and Quantity in Hotel Rooms
Authors: Fu Xi , Li Yanling , Yuan Qianqian , Cai Gui-hong , Deng Yiqun , Zhang Xin , Norbäck Dan , Sun Yu
Published: May 2020

This is the first microbiome study to characterize the microbiome data and associated environmental characteristics in hotel environments. In this study, we found concordant variation between fungal compositional variation and absolute quantity and discordant variation between community variation/quantity and richness. Our study can be used to promote hotel hygiene standards and provide resource information for future microbiome and exposure studies associated with health effects in hotel rooms.
Past hot fluid flows in limestones detected by Δ47–(U-Pb) and not recorded by other geothermometers
Authors: Brigaud Benjamin , Bonifacie Magali , Pagel Maurice , Blaise Thomas , Calmels Damien , Haurine Frédéric , Landrein Philippe
Published: May 2020

Geothermometers are commonly used to reconstruct the diagenetic and thermal history of rocks. However, characterizing the timing, origin, and temperature of paleofluid flow remains challenging because it must be assessed indirectly through the analysis of microscopic cements that precipitate and fill intergranular spaces during fluid circulation. Here, we measure both the clumped isotope (Δ47) temperature and in situ U-Pb age of individual diagenetic calcite cements within a sedimentary section of the Paris Basin (France), whose thermal history has been previously inferred to be <60 °C. We show that cementation occurred during two stages associated with major events at the western European lithospheric scale: (1) the Bay of Biscay rifting (Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous), and (2) north-south Pyrenean compression (Eocene) followed by east-west extension during the European Cenozoic rift system event (Oligocene). Related to both events, we report unexpectedly hot fluids, up to 110 °C, contrasting with the lower temperatures inferred from other geothermometers (e.g., fluid inclusions, clay minerals, apatite fission tracks, maturity of organic matter by Rock-Eval pyrolysis, or vitrinite reflectance). These high temperatures (>70 °C) have been measured for calcite cements containing single-phase aqueous fluid inclusions, challenging the commonly accepted assertion that the absence of nucleation of a vapor phase indicates crystallization at low temperature (∼<70 °C). We suggest that the kinetics of mineralization events prevented the recording of short-lived hot fluid flows by other geothermometers.
Postintravenous immunoglobulin stroke in a toddler with Down syndrome: a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Toh Teck-Hock , Siew Everlyn Coxin , Chieng Chae-Hee , Mohd Ismail Hussain Imam
Published: May 2020

Children with Down syndrome have a higher risk of stroke. Similarly, intravenous immunoglobulin (IV Ig) is also known to cause a stroke. We reported a 3-year-old boy with Down syndrome who presented with severe pneumonia and received IV Ig. He developed right hemiparesis 60 hours after the infusion. Blood investigations, echocardiography and carotid Doppler did not suggest vasculitis, thrombophilia or extracranial dissection. Brain computerised tomography (CT) showed acute left frontal and parietal infarcts. Initial magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of cerebral vessels showed short segment attenuations of both proximal middle cerebral arteries and reduction in the calibre of bilateral supraclinoid internal carotid arteries. The boy was treated with enoxaparin and aspirin. He only had partial recovery of the hemiparesis on follow-up. A repeat MRA 13 months later showed parenchymal collateral vessels suggestive of moyamoya disease. We recommend imaging the cerebral vessels in children with a high risk of moyamoya before giving IV Ig.
Subclavian steal syndrome treated by kissing stenting of the subclavian and vertebral arteries
Authors: Zener Rebecca , Jaskolka Jeff , Roche-Nagle Graham
Published: May 2020

The prevalence of subclavian artery (SA) stenosis is approximately 2%. The exact prevalence of extracranial vertebral artery (VA) stenosis is undetermined, with estimates ranging from 7% to 40%. Nearly 25% of ischaemic strokes involve the vertebrobasilar circulation, and arteriosclerotic disease and narrowing of the proximal VA may be the cause for up to one-fifth of these incidents. The bulk of SA stenoses occur proximally to the ostium of the VA. Vertebrobasilar ischaemia can be caused both by VA and SA stenosis. Surgical and endovascular approaches are potential treatment options for SA/VA stenosis. It has been demonstrated that endovascular intervention is considerably safer for this pathology, and with advances in device technology, angioplasty with stenting has become the preferred treatment option. We present the case of a 76-year-old man who presented with vertebrobasilar ischaemia from coexisting stenosis of the SA/VA which was treated by endovascular methods.
Immune checkpoint inhibitor induced large vessel vasculitis
Authors: Henderson Daisy , Eslamian Gelareh , Poon Daniel , Crabb Simon , Jones Robert , Sankey Peter , Kularatne Bihani , Linch Mark , Josephs Debra
Published: May 2020

This is a case report of a 67-year-old patient with castration resistant metastatic prostate cancer who developed an immune-mediated large vessel vasculitis following treatment with ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) and nivolumab (anti-PD-1).
Romiplostim for management of refractory immune thrombocytopenic purpura in the immediate postpartum period
Authors: Patras Ariana , Figueroa Reinaldo , Singh Amit P , Madan Ichchha
Published: May 2020

We present a case of a pregnant woman with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura and chronic hypertension who developed pre-eclampsia with severe features warranting delivery. Her overall clinical picture and liver enzymes improved in the immediate postpartum period, however, aggressively progressing thrombocytopenia posed a diagnostic dilemma to the interdisciplinary care team. After failing to respond to first-line therapies including high-dose corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, she was successfully managed with a trial of the thrombopoietin receptor agonist, Romiplostim.
Delayed-onset progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia with secondary synovial chondromatosis
Authors: Shahi Pratyush , Sehgal Apoorv , Sudan Aarushi , Sehgal Shreya
Published: May 2020

A 25-year-old man presented to us with progressive multiple joint pain, enlargement, and restricted movements. X-rays showed platyspondyly, multiple epiphyseal widening, synovial chondromatosis, and decreased bone stock and cortical thickness. Genetic testing showed biallelic pathogenic variants in CCN6 which confirmed the diagnosis of progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia. Supportive care, physical therapy, genetic and psychological counselling were provided to the patient.
Long-term effect of YAG laser iridotomy on corneal endothelium in primary angle closure suspects: a 72-month randomised controlled study
Authors: Liao Chimei , Zhang Jian , Jiang Yuzhen , Huang Shengsong , Aung Tin , Foster Paul J , Friedman David , He Mingguang
Published: May 2020

Purposes

To evaluate the effect of YAG laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) and morphology in primary angle closure suspects (PACS) over 72 months.

Methods

The Zhongshan Angle Closure Prevention Trial is a single-centre randomised controlled trial. Subjects with bilateral PACS received YAG LPI prophylactic treatment in one eye randomly, while the fellow eye served as control. Central corneal ECD and morphology were assessed using non-contact specular microscopy (SP-2000P, Topcon) at baseline, 6, 18, 36, 54 and 72 months postoperatively. Mixed model analysis was conducted to compare the difference between treated and fellow eyes.

Results

A total of 875 participants were included, with a mean age of 59.3±5.0 years and 83.5% female. The ECD declined significantly (p<0.001) over time in both treated and fellow eyes, but the treated eyes showed more progressive cell loss with increasing time (p<0.001). The difference in ECD loss between LPI-treated and fellow eyes was not significant at each follow-up until 72 months (4.9% in LPI eyes vs 4.2% in non-LPI eyes, p=0.003). Mean cell areas increased significantly over time in both treated and fellow eyes (p<0.001), but no longitudinal change was observed for hexagonality. In LPI-treated eyes, no significant correlation was found between age, gender, ocular biometrics, intraocular pressure and laser settings with endothelium change, except for time effect (p<0.01).

Conclusion

ECD decreases over time primarily due to ageing effect. YAG LPI does not appear to cause clinically significant corneal endothelial damage over 72 months after treatment.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN45213099.