bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complying with the requirements for issuance of SRI sukuk: the case of Khazanah’s Sukuk Ihsan
Authors: Noordin Nazrul Hazizi , Haron Siti Nurah , Hasan Aznan , Hassan Rusni
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a critical review on how the Khazanah’s Sukuk Ihsan was structured in compliance with the requirements for issuance of Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) sukuk set by the Securities Commission (SC) Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

To explain the structures and features of the Sukuk Ihsan, this study extracted important information from the sukuk’s Principle Terms and Conditions and Information Memorandum and presented them in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Next, this study refers to Part D: Requirement for Issuance, Offering or Invitation to Subscribe or Purchase Sustainable and Responsible Investment Sukuk of the SC’s Guidelines on Sukuk (revised edition: 28 August 2014) to assess the compliance of the sukuk in terms of eligibility of SRI sukuk issuer and SRI projects, use of proceeds, reporting and disclosure and independent assessment on SRI programmes. In addition, this study then compares the requirements stated in the SC’s SRI Sukuk Framework with the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles (GBP) and the USA’s Social Impact Bond (SIB) Act 2014.

Findings

The present study finds that the definition of eligible SRI sukuk issuer in the Guidelines on Sukuk seems to be more stringent compared to the one provided in the GBP and the US’ SIB Act. Nevertheless, the SRI Sukuk Framework provides a more comprehensive yet precise list of eligible SRI projects, covering both environmental and social aspects, compared to the GBP (which only focuses on broad categories of environmental projects) and also the USA’s SIB Act (explicitly outlines 13 social projects which are aligned with the US Federal Government’s agenda in tackling social illnesses). Indeed, the main difference between the eligible SRI sukuk projects and its conventional counterparts lies in its compliance to Shariah principles. It is also observed that a significant emphasis has been given on SRI legislations in ensuring proper reporting and disclosure provided to the SRI sukuk stakeholders together with critical evaluation on the impacts of SRI programmes provided by an independent assessor.

Practical implications

This paper contributes towards enriching the literature on the Islamic capital market, particularly on the integration between sukuk and social impacts investing. This paper was intended to highlight the important requirements in issuing SRI sukuk to various stakeholders of the Islamic capital market.

Originality/value

The authors hope to shed some lights on the unique features and structural applications of SRI sukuk and its importance in becoming an effective instrument to raise funds for social agenda of a country by providing a real and practical example.
Sharia accounting standard for sukuk (Islamic bond) accounting in Indonesia
Authors: Siswantoro Dodik
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the need of Islamic banks for specific Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 110 for sukuk accounting in Indonesia. In fact, some Islamic banks have already prepared International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and accordingly, a suitable standard is needed for this case.

Design/methodology/approach

The research methodology involved interview with a senior accounting manager of an Islamic bank focusing on relevant topics in sukuk to sharpen the analysis. Equally important, research reviewed and compared financial statements on sukuk accounting among Islamic banks, before and after adoption of sukuk accounting standard.

Findings

IFRS require market valuation based on interest rate. As interest rate is unlawful in Islamic teaching, IFRS may not accordingly be suitable. Therefore, SFAS No. 110 was issued by the Indonesian Institute of Accountants (Ikatan Akuntan Indonesia). Considering the fact that this standard did not explicitly adopt the IFRS paradigm, there have been consequent conflicts in Islamic bank management because of preference of global recognition to IFRS. Adopting IFRS would be more compatible with other countries’ general accounting standards. In addition, significant differences are found in sukuk accounting treatments by Islamic banks before and after the standard adoption.

Research limitations/implications

This research only focuses on such question of why specific accounting standard for sukuk accounting is needed by Islamic banks in Indonesia, while only few Indonesian Islamic banks were initially aware of the issue.

Originality/value

This paper may be the first paper discussing the response to and need for sukuk accounting in Indonesian Islamic banks.
The recent formulation of “having reasonable grounds to believe”
Authors: Wilson Claire
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse the challenges in devising a suitable formulation to determine whether a person had reasonable grounds to believe that property dealt with represented the proceeds of an indictable crime in the context of money laundering offences. The paper also examines the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal’s recent formulation in HKSAR v. Yeung Ka Sing, Carson (decided July 2016) and evaluates international standards.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology adopted is partly a technical analysis of the various interpretations of “having reasonable grounds to believe” alongside a comparative approach drawing on international standards of the mens rea threshold and the position in the UK.

Findings

The findings are that the Court of Final Appeal’s formulation of “having reasonable grounds to believe” is the best possible outcome given the confines of the statutory provisions. The study confirms that the threshold set by the Court of Final appeal surpasses international standards; however, it argues that current international standards are in need of review.

Originality/value

This paper offers insight into the latest mens rea threshold of “having reasonable grounds to believe” in the context of Hong Kong’s anti-money laundering laws and compares international standards of the mens rea threshold. The discussion is of value to a wide audience both in Hong Kong and globally. It aims to provide guidelines to legal practitioners, law enforcement personnel, persons in the private and public sectors, academics and members of the public. This paper also seeks to provoke discussion as to whether international standards on the mens rea threshold should be reviewed with a view to strengthening international cooperation on the prevention of money laundering.
Creating and building a post-conflict fiscal state through global wealth chains
Authors: Waris Attiya
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to assess using a historical approach the challenges facing Somaliland and analyze how the Somalilanders are in the twenty-first century using the globalized financial architecture and system of wealth chains to finance their nascent state and move the debate forward on the calls for self-determination.

Design/methodology/approach

Research on this paper included not just a desk review but two research trips to Somaliland and over 20 interviews of politicians, government officials and the private sector and academia.

Findings

Today the global wealth chains flowing in and out of Somaliland include some complex ones which include the interactions with other members of the Somali diaspora whether they are in the USA or in Australia where money moves in and out of bank accounts in different countries finally ending up in either Dubai or Djibouti where it is finally transferred through the money transfer agencies into Hargeisa and finally withdrawn by the relative of a diaspora member. The similar wealth chains are those going between traders such as those that already maintain companies in Djibouti because of the war period and continue to live and trade there but have branches in Somaliland. There are simple direct transfers that are easily understood.

Research limitations/implications

Translators had to be used, as some parliamentarians only spoke Kisomali.

Originality/value

No papers have been written on the global banking and finance system with specific reference to Somaliland.
Anti-money laundering effectiveness: assessing outcomes or ticking boxes?
Authors: Pol Ronald F.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This article aims to constructively critique the new global methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of anti-money laundering regimes against defined outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

With surprisingly little discussion at the intersection of the money laundering and policy effectiveness and outcomes scholarship and practice, this article combines elements of these disciplines and recent peer-review evaluations, to qualitatively assess the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF’s) anti-money laundering “effectiveness” methodology.

Findings

FATF’s “effectiveness” methodology does not yet reflect an outcome-oriented framework as it purports. Misapplication of outcome labels to outputs and activities miss an opportunity to evaluate outcomes, as the impact and effect of anti-money laundering policies.

Practical implications

If the “outcomes” of the “effectiveness” framework do not match the crime and terrorism prevention policy goals of nation states, the new “main” component for assessing the effectiveness of anti-money laundering regimes potentially detracts focus and resources from, rather than towards, intended policy objectives.

Originality/value

There is a dearth of scholarship whether the global anti-money laundering “effectiveness” framework is sufficiently robust to assess effectiveness as it purports. This article begins addressing that gap.
China’s dirty laundry – international organizations posing a risk to China’s AML systems
Authors: Naheem Mohammed Ahmad
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to review some of the current challenges that international money laundering schemes are posing in the Chinese banking sector. Anti-money laundering (AML) systems in China are relatively new, and customer due diligence checks and other AML systems are underdeveloped in some areas.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers a particular case example of a multi-company organization that has known links to China. This company has been the target of both European and US investigations for suspected embezzlement and money laundering, and yet is still in operation.

Findings

The paper considers the complexities of this organization and how a seemly innocent link to a used clothing charity can fund an international organization spanning several countries. The paper offers a list of basic indicators of risk that could be applied to a risk-based system used within the Chinese banking context by using this group as an example.

Originality/value

The paper uses empirical and academic studies from other authors working in this region and supports many of the findings of the need to develop stronger risk-based, as opposed to rules-based, systems for managing AML risk assessment. Previous work by the author and suggestions from other authors are both used to suggest a basic framework for AML risk assessment. The paper concludes by reiterating the fact that China, like all other countries, is now operating in an international banking context, in much the same way that international organized crime is also operating at a global level.
Illicit financial flows: HSBC case study
Authors: Naheem Mohammed Ahmad
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper provides examples of how illicit financial flows (IFFs) are occurring through the formal banking and financial services sector. The purpose of this paper is to explore which elements of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance need to be addressed to strengthen the banking response and reduce the impact of IFFs within the banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a number of sources of secondary data including the Swiss leaks data for HSBC and also the Permanent Sub Committee Report on HBUS in the USA, the OECD report on money laundering compliance and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidelines on beneficial ownership. It links this information to the relevant IFF reports produced through Global Financial Integrity to highlight the connection between banking AML compliance and IFF transfers through the banking sector.

Findings

The main findings from the analysis are that banks have a greater legal responsibility towards detecting and reporting suspicious transactions than they would have previously considered. This includes identifying the source and purpose of fund transfers and establishing the beneficial ownership of recipients.

Research limitations/implications

The research topic is new; therefore, analysis papers and other academic writing on this topic are limited.

Practical implications

The research paper has identified a number of implications to the banking sector on addressing AML deficiencies, especially the need to improve standards of beneficial ownership verification and customer due diligence (CDD) checks for politically exposed persons.

Social implications

This paper has implications for the international development and the global banking sector. It will also influence approaches to AML regulation, risk assessment and audit within the broader financial services sector.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is the link between the HSBC cases and IFFs and the implications this will have for future AML compliance processes across the banking sector.
Hidden treasure: a study of unclaimed property management by state government
Authors: Wilson Darrin , Slagle Derek
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Unclaimed property is an important part of state government operations, yet very little research has been conducted on the function of returning unclaimed property to owners or the related public administration operation of unclaimed property. The purpose of this paper is to offer an exploratory study of unclaimed property in the USA and the factors that influence management.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use Agency Theory to examine the role of unclaimed property in state government budgeting and operations. The data consisted of a 2011 survey of state unclaimed property agencies, which was utilized for a regression model.

Findings

Results showed: type of uniform code used to govern unclaimed property; and presence and size of marketing staff in the agency had a significant relationship with extent of property returned to owners.

Originality/value

This is the first comprehensive study on how state governments manage unclaimed property. This study can provide practitioners, policymakers, and researchers with a better insight into unclaimed property management.
Can health benefit outcomes benefit public health budget professionals
Authors: Candreva Phillip , Eger Robert
Published: March 2018

Purpose

To assist in achieving cost effective health care allocations in a collective choice setting, the purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of a tool not common in the public budgeting literature but is common in the health economics literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a meta-analysis of the health care spending literature that computed the value of quality-adjusted life years, the authors provide an alternative approach for budgeters and policymakers.

Findings

The authors provide an alternative approach for budgeters and policymakers for weighing the benefits of alternative health care spending allocations.

Originality/value

The authors introduce an alternative approach for weighing the benefits of alternative health care spending allocations. As a tool for budgeting professionals, cost per QALY allows for the opportunity to raise cost-effectiveness of public health expenditures as a tool for governments to allocate resources based on outcomes, rather than inputs.
Self-selection bias or decision inertia? Explaining the municipal bond “competitive sale dilemma”
Authors: Liu Gao
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Although most empirical studies find that competitive bidding can reduce the interest cost, the municipal bond primary market is dominated by negotiating offerings. The purpose of this paper is to investigate this dilemma by empirically testing two hypotheses: self-selection bias and decision inertia hypotheses.

Design/methodology/approach

Logistic regressions and Heckman procedures are used to examine data from the California municipal bond primary market.

Findings

The paper finds that while information asymmetry does affect the selection of underwriting approach, self-selection bias cannot explain the cost difference between the two sale approaches. On the other hand, decision inertia has the highest explanatory power in the selection of sale approaches.

Originality/value

This paper provides a new explanation for the “competitive sale dilemma” from the perspective of decision inertia. The authors document that state and local governments show a greater propensity of adhering to previous choices, particularly in a context in which the outcome is uncertain or actors have little knowledge in comparing the outcome of the alternatives.
Basin tectonic history and paleo‐physiography of the pelagian platform, northern Tunisia, using vitrinite reflectance data
Authors: Cavailhes Thibault , Rotevatn Atle , Monstad Ståle , Khala Atef Ben , Funk Erich , Canner Kathryn , Looser Mirko , Chalabi Ali , Gay Aurélien , Travé Anna , Ferhi Faycel , Skanji Ahmed , Chebbi Riadh Mohamed , Bang Nils
Published: March 2018

Constraining the thermal, burial and uplift/exhumation history of sedimentary basins is crucial in the understanding of upper crustal strain evolution and also has implications for understanding the nature and timing of hydrocarbon maturation and migration. In this study, we use Vitrinite Reflectance (VR) data to elucidate the paleo‐physiography and thermal history of an inverted basin in the foreland of the Atlasic orogeny in Northern Tunisia. In doing so, it is the primary aim of this study to demonstrate how VR techniques may be applied to unravel basin subsidence/uplift history of structural domains and provide valuable insights into the kinematic evolution of sedimentary basins. VR measurements of both the onshore Pelagian Platform and the Tunisian Furrow in Northern Tunisia are used to impose constraints on the deformation history of a long‐lived structural feature in the studied region, namely the Zaghouan Fault. Previous work has shown that this fault was active as an extensional structure in Lower Jurassic to Aptian times, before subsequently being inverted during the Late Cretaceous Eocene Atlas I tectonic event and Upper Miocene Atlas II tectonic event. Quantifying and constraining this latter inversion stage, and shedding light on the roles of structural inheritance and the basin thermal history, are secondary aims of this study. The results of this study show that the Atlas II WNW‐ESE compressive event deformed both the Pelagian Platform and the Tunisian Furrow during Tortonian‐Messinian times. Maximum burial depth for the Pelagian Platform was reached during the Middle to Upper Miocene, i.e. prior to the Atlas II folding event. VR measurements indicate that the Cretaceous to Ypresian section of the Pelagian Platform was buried to a maximum burial depth of ~3 km, using a geothermal gradient of 30°C/km. Cretaceous rock samples VR values show that the hanging wall of the Zaghouan Fault was buried to a maximum depth of <2 km. This suggests that a vertical km‐scale throw along the Zaghouan Fault pre‐dated the Atlas II shortening, and also proves that the fault controlled the subsidence of the Pelagian Platform during the Oligo‐Miocene. Mean exhumation rates of the Pelagian Platform throughout the Messinian to Quaternary were in the order of 0.3 mm/year. However, when the additional effect of Tortonian‐Messinian folding is accounted for, exhumation rates could have reached 0.6–0.7 mm/year.
Anaemia and thyrotoxicosis: The need to look for an alternative cause
Authors: Sehgal S. , Tamatea J.A.U. , Conaglen J.V. , Elston M.S.
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Anaemia and thyrotoxicosis are both relatively common. It is unclear whether thyrotoxicosis results in anaemia in the absence of other causes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of anaemia in patients with thyrotoxicosis.

Design

A prospective cohort study of patients with thyrotoxicosis.

Patients: 353 patients referred to a regional endocrinology centre in New Zealand from March 2013 to November 2014 for new‐onset thyrotoxicosis.

Measurements

Detailed assessment including thyroid function tests, full blood count, inflammatory markers, haematological parameters and coeliac serology. Anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin value <115 g/L (woman) or <130 g/L (men).

Results

Anaemia was present in 31 (8.7%) patients at diagnosis. Of these, pre‐existing anaemia was present in 10, and a further 11 had one or more identifiable underlying cause(s) for the anaemia. Only 10 patients (2.8% of the entire cohort) had anaemia not clearly attributable to another cause. Median free thyroid hormone levels were higher in those with anaemia of unknown cause compared to patients with thyrotoxicosis alone. The median duration of anaemia was shorter in patients with thyrotoxicosis‐associated anaemia compared to those with anaemia due to an underlying cause (1 vs 6 months, P = .001). In all patients with thyrotoxicosis‐associated anaemia, the anaemia resolved, either prior to, or on becoming euthyroid.

Conclusion

Anaemia coexisting with thyrotoxicosis is less common than previously reported and is mild and transient. Patients with thyrotoxicosis and significant anaemia should be investigated for other potential causes, particularly when anaemia persists.
Enhancing amplification of late‐outgrowth endothelial cells by bilobalide
Authors: Liu Shuqin , Hou Xiaoye , Chen Lina , Hu Hao , Sun Qiang , Zhao Feng , Liu Chuanhao
Published: March 2018

Transfusion of autologous late‐outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) is a promising treatment for restenosis after revascularization. Preparing cells by in vitro amplification is a key step to implement the therapy. This study aimed to demonstrate that bilobalide, a terpenoid, enhances the OEC amplification. Human‐, rabbit‐ and rat OECs and a mouse femoral artery injury model were used. Expanding OECs used endothelial growth medium‐2 as the standard culture medium while exploring the mechanisms used endothelial basal medium‐2. Proliferation assay used MTT method and BrdU method. Migration assay used the modified Boyden chamber. Intracellular nitric oxide, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical/peroxynitrite and H2O2 were quantified with DAF‐FM DA, dihydroethidium, hydroxyphenyl fluorescein and a H2O2 assay kit, respectively. Activated ERK1/2 and eNOS were tested with the Western blot. Bilobalide concentration‐dependently enhanced OEC number increase in vitro. Transfusion of bilobalide‐based human OECs into femoral injured athymia nude mouse reduced the intimal hyperplasia. Bilobalide promoted OEC proliferation and migration and increased the intracellular nitric oxide level. L‐NAME, a NOS inhibitor, inhibits but not abolishes OEC proliferation, migration and ERK1/2 activation. Bilobalide concentration‐dependently enhanced the eNOS Ser‐1177 phosphorylation and Thr‐495 dephosphorylation in activated OECs. Bilobalide alleviates the increase in hydroxyl radical/peroxynitrite, superoxide anion and H2O2 in proliferating OECs. In conclusion, nitric oxide plays a partial role in OEC proliferation and migration; bilobalide increases OEC nitric oxide production and decreases nitric oxide depletion, promoting the OEC number increase; Bilobalide‐based OECs are active in vivo. The findings may simplify the preparation of OECs, facilitating the implementation of the autologous‐OECs‐transfusion therapy.
Elder Abuse Identification in the Prehospital Setting: An Examination of State Emergency Medical Services Protocols
Authors: Namboodri Brooke L. , Rosen Tony , Dayaa Joseph A. , Bischof Jason J. , Ramadan Nadeem , Patel Mehul D. , Grover Joseph , Brice Jane H. , Platts‐Mills Timothy F.
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To describe statewide emergency medical service (EMS) protocols relating to identification, management, and reporting of elder abuse in the prehospital setting.

Design

Cross‐sectional analysis.

Setting

Statewide EMS protocols in the United States.

Participants

Publicly available statewide EMS protocols identified from published literature, http://EMSprotocols.org, and each state's public health website.

Measurements

Protocols were reviewed to determine whether elder abuse was mentioned, elder abuse was defined, potential indicators of elder abuse were listed, management of older adults experiencing abuse was described, and instructions regarding reporting were provided. EMS protocols for child abuse were reviewed in the same manner for the purpose of comparison.

Results

Of the 35 publicly available statewide EMS protocols, only 14 (40.0%) mention elder abuse. Of protocols that mention elder abuse, 6 (42.9%) define elder abuse, 10 (71.4%) describe indicators of elder abuse, 8 (57.1%) provide instruction regarding management, and 12 (85.7%) provide instruction regarding reporting. Almost twice as many states met each of these metrics for child abuse.

Conclusion

Statewide EMS protocols for elder abuse vary in regard to identification, management, and reporting, with the majority of states having no content on this subject. Expansion and standardization of protocols may increase the identification of elder abuse.
Use of the Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment Program in Indiana Nursing Homes
Authors: Hickman Susan E. , Sudore Rebecca L. , Sachs Greg A. , Torke Alexia M. , Myers Anne L. , Tang Qing , Bakoyannis Giorgos , Hammes Bernard J.
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To assess the use of the Indiana Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) form to record nursing home (NH) resident treatment preferences and associated practices.

Design

Survey.

Setting

Indiana NHs.

Participants

Staff responsible for advance care planning in 535 NHs.

Measurements

Survey about use of the Indiana POST, related policies, and educational activities.

Methods

NHs were contacted by telephone or email. Nonresponders were sent a brief postcard survey.

Results

Ninety‐one percent (n=486) of Indiana NHs participated, and 79% had experience with POST. Of the 65% of NHs that complete POST with residents, 46% reported that half or more residents had a POST form. POST was most often completed at the time of admission (68%). Only 52% of participants were aware of an existing facility policy regarding use of POST; 80% reported general staff education on POST. In the 172 NHs not using POST, reasons for not using it included unfamiliarity with the tool (23%) and lack of facility policies (21%).

Conclusion

Almost 3 years after a grassroots campaign to introduce the voluntary Indiana POST program, a majority of NHs were using POST to support resident care. Areas for improvement include creating policies on POST for all NHs, training staff on POST conversations, and considering processes that may enhance the POST conversation, such as finding an optimal time to engage in conversations about treatment preferences other than a potentially rushed admission process.
Optimal privatization and uniform subsidy policies: A note
Authors: Lin Ming Hsin , Matsumura Toshihiro
Published: March 2018

The privatization neutrality theorem states that the share of public ownership in a firm does not affect welfare under an optimal uniform tax‐subsidy policy. We revisit this neutrality result. First, we investigate the case in which the private firm is domestic. We show that this neutrality result does not hold unless public and private firms have the same cost function. Next, we investigate a case in which both domestic and foreign investors own the private firm. We show that the optimal degree of privatization is never zero, and thus, the neutrality result does not hold, even when there is no cost difference between public and private firms.
Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials and magnetic resonance imaging findings in paraplegic dogs with recovery of motor function
Authors: Siedenburg Johannes S. , Wang‐Leandro Adriano , Amendt Hanna‐Luise , Rohn Karl , Tipold Andrea , Stein Veronika M.
Published: March 2018

Background

Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (TMMEP) are associated with severity of clinical signs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in dogs with spinal cord disease.

Hypothesis

That in initially paraplegic dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (IVDH), MRI findings before surgery and TMMEPs obtained after decompressive surgery are associated with long‐term neurological status and correlate with each other.

Animals

Seventeen client‐owned paraplegic dogs with acute thoracolumbar IVDH.

Methods

Prospective observational study. TMMEPs were obtained from pelvic limbs and MRI (3T) of the spinal cord was performed at initial clinical presentation. Follow‐up studies were performed ≤ 2 days after reappearance of motor function and 3 months later. Ratios of compression length, intramedullary hyperintensities' length (T2‐weighted hyperintensity length ratio [T2WLR]), and lesion extension (T2‐weighted‐lesion extension ratio) in relation to the length of the 2nd lumbar vertebral body were calculated.

Results

TMMEPs could be elicited in 10/17 (59%) dogs at 1st and in 16/17 (94%) dogs at 2nd follow‐up. Comparison of TMMEPs of 1st and 2nd follow‐up showed significantly increased amplitudes (median from 0.19 to 0.45 mV) and decreased latencies (from 69.38 to 40.26 ms; P = .01 and .001, respectively). At 2nd follow‐up latencies were significantly associated with ambulatory status (P = .024). T2WLR obtained before surgery correlated with latencies at 2nd follow‐up (P = .04).

Conclusions

TMMEP reflect motor function recovery after severe spinal cord injury.
ACVIM consensus update on Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats
Authors: Littman Meryl P. , Gerber Bernhard , Goldstein Richard E. , Labato Mary Anna , Lappin Michael R. , Moore George E.
Published: March 2018

An update of the 2006 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Small Animal Consensus Statement on Lyme Disease in Dogs: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention was presented at the 2016 ACVIM Forum in Denver, CO, followed by panel and audience discussion and a drafted consensus statement distributed online to diplomates for comment. The updated consensus statement is presented below. The consensus statement aims to provide guidance on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme borreliosis in dogs and cats.
Nonfluoroscopic catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Authors: Lyan Evgeny , Tsyganov Alexey , Abdrahmanov Ayan , Morozov Alexander , Bakytzhanuly Abay , Tursunbekov Azat , Nuralinov Omirbek , Mironovich Sergey , Klukvin Alexander , Marinin Valery , Tilz Roland Richard , Sawan Noureddin
Published: March 2018

Aims

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most complex ablation procedures. Both patients and operators are exposed to scattered radiation. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of intracardiac echo (ICE)‐guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) without fluoroscopy.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 481 consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing radiofrequency PVI with the CARTO 3 system (Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA). ICE‐guided PVI without fluoroscopy and without CT/MRI integration (Nonfluoro group) was performed for 245 patients, and conventional fluoroscopy‐guided PVI (Fluoro group) was performed for 236 patients. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of major adverse events. The primary efficacy endpoint was freedom from AF during follow‐up. Secondary endpoints included procedure duration, fluoroscopy duration, and acute PVI rate.

Results

Mean procedure times between groups were similar (108.8 ± 18.2 minutes in the Non‐fluoro group vs 113.6 ± 26.8 minutes in the Fluoro group; P  =  not significant [NS]). Acute PVI was achieved in all patients, with mean radiofrequency application times of 43.4 ± 7.5 and 44.4 ± 10.7 minutes for the Nonfluoro and Fluoro groups, respectively (P  =  NS). The incidence of cardiac tamponade was 1.2% (3/245 patients) in the Nonfluoro group and 0.8% (2/236 patients) in the Fluoro group (P  =  NS). During 15.2 ± 4.1 months of follow‐up, after a single procedure, AF recurrence was documented in 65 of 245 (26.5%) patients and 61 of 236 (25.8%) patients in the Nonfluoro and Fluoro groups, respectively (P  =  NS).

Conclusions

Nonfluoroscopic ICE‐guided catheter ablation of AF without prior cardiac image integration or angiography is feasible and safe. PVI without fluoroscopy did not affect procedure duration or long‐term efficacy.
Morphology of alpaca (Vicugna pacos) embryos in the first third of pregnancy
Authors: Castro ANC , Díaz MC , Mendoza‐Torres GJ , Llerena‐Zavala CA , Ghezzi MD , Barbeito CG
Published: March 2018

Contents

The breeding of South American camelids is the main economic activity of the high Andean region of South America and it, is potentially, the most profitable resource in of the Puna environmental conditions of the Puna. The duration of the gestation in alpaca is 339.7 ± 12 days. The objective of the present work was to macroscopically and microscopically describe the ontogenic development of the splanchnic cavities of the alpaca and to determine the gestational time in which the post‐cranial ossification centers are observed in the embryos/fetuses of this species, from day 21 to 107 of gestation. The documentation of normal ontogenic development, which is vacant for this period, is of the utmost importance to understand the consequences of the alterations at the different gestational times, as well as for the estimation of the gestational age in the case of abortions. Forty‐seven alpaca specimens of both sexes, at different times of their gestational development, collected during slaughter at local slaughterhouses of the Department of Huancavelica, Peru, were evaluated. Specimens were assigned to seven groups according to their morphological characteristics. The embryogenesis in the alpaca was characterized by a series of changes comparable to those occurring in other mammals with similar gestational periods. Despite these similarities, species differences were found in some organs as stomach, which are observed too in adult individuals.
Building a Smart City
Authors: Kosowatz John
Published: March 2018

This article focuses on the need of creating a digital infrastructure to make smart cities and life better. According to a report by Navigant Research, smart cities are a global phenomenon. There are 250 projects underway in 178 cities worldwide, with Europe leading the way because of its aggressive climate change policies. With digital infrastructure evolving so quickly, municipal officials need to update software frequently to improve capabilities. Cities will need new types of professionals to manage and interpret the data. The buildout of a private digital infrastructure points the way toward even greater connectivity, and it is happening rapidly whether cities are leading the way or not. New security standards are emerging to bring better security to every device on the smart network. The recently released ISO/IEC 18598 standard mandates secure but interoperable interfaces for software from different vendors. Experts suggest that cities must learn to master those flows of traffic, energy, and information to create a smarter city that makes life better for those who are connected and those who are not.
Crossing the Valley of Death
Authors: Petroski Henry
Published: March 2018

This article explains how difficult it could be sometimes to get a potentially good idea from the laboratory to the marketplace. A classic example of this difficulty is the humble Post-it note that was developed by engineer and inventor Art Fry. Art Fry worked for the 3M Company, which allowed him to engage part time in intrapreneurship. When Fry approached his superiors with his invention, the novel idea was not received with much enthusiasm. The market for sticky bookmarks did not seem to be very promising, and Fry’s idea seemed outlandish. However, Fry persistently pushed the idea until 3M relented and test-marketed “temporarily permanent” stick-and-remove notes, pads of which were distributed free to customers of other office products. Secretaries and other office workers found all sorts of uses for what came to be called Post-it notes, and the rest is history for the immensely successful product. However, the whole process from development to commercialization spanned about a decade.
Eyes on the Road
Authors: Abrams Michael , Romer Thomas
Published: March 2018

This article presents an overview of the EyeQ silicon chip developed by Jerusalem-based company Mobileye. The company has been designing hardware and training software algorithms to help vehicles detect and avoid other vehicles. In a major advance, the company has been able to shrink its Advanced Driving Assist System to fit on a single silicon chip it calls EyeQ. When wired to a camera, the system offers superior cruise control, keeps its vehicle in lane, recognizes traffic signs, and can automatically brake for pedestrians and other dangerously close vehicles. The company, which was founded by Amnon Shashua, a professor of computer science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has already sold 20 million of its chips. The advantage of having so many of them already traveling the world’s highways extends beyond the immediate safety they provide. Mobileye is mining the data those chips collect to create a high-definition mapping system that will work with real-time data to help vehicles navigate and eventually become fully autonomous.
A Passivity-Based System Design of Semi-Autonomous Cooperative Robotic Swarm
Authors: Hatanaka Takeshi , Chopra Nikhil , Yamauchi Junya , Doi Mamoru , Kawai Yasunori , Fujita Masayuki
Published: March 2018

This article presents a novel semiautonomous cooperative robotic system. Information flows in the architecture are designed based on the passivity property. The human passivity needed to guarantee the control goal is demonstrated using a human-in-the-loop simulator and system identification techniques. As a solution to stable coordination via bilateral human–swarm interactions, the research group built the system consisting of multiple planar robots, an operator and a computer whose role is to implement the distributed motion synchronization law. Experimental results on remote control of the robots are finally demonstrated. A typical approach to stabilization of an interconnected system that includes a highly uncertain component like a human operator is to assume passivity of the component block. Specifically, modeling of the operator has been addressed in this manner for several studies in bilateral teleoperation. It is observed from the figures provided in the article that the robots form and maintain the specified formation while they are maneuvered stably toward the desired references by the operator.
Digital World Spawns Identical Twins
Authors: Thilmany Jean
Published: March 2018

This article explores the concept of digital twins and reasons why manufacturers prefer digital replicas of products, machines, processes, or even entire factories. A digital twin models the robotic line with such high fidelity that the engineer can do all this in the virtual world. Digital twins are the foundation of tomorrow’s smarter workplace. A factory’s digital twin must be robust enough to capture those changes, plus all relevant data from each operation. Smart factories, such as GE’s Brilliant Factory and Siemens’ competing Industrie 4.0, need both types of digital twins—product and process—to work. Digital product models contain each component that goes into a product, from screws and welds to plastic shapes and machined metals. Digital twins also support greater automation. As artificial intelligence (AI) systems learn more about specific machines, they will use their digital twins to help engineers run plants more efficiently. AI can analyze it to see if a screw is loose or a bearing is starting to fail. The better the AI knows the machine, the more accurately it can predict when that failure is likely to happen.
Connected Vehicles and Powertrain Optimization
Authors: Chen Bo , Robinette Darrell , Shahbakhti Mahdi , Zhang Kuilin , Naber Jeff , Worm Jeremy , Pinnow Christopher , Morgan Christopher
Published: March 2018

This article discusses the basic concept of connected and automated vehicles (CAV) technology. The common methods to improve fuel economy are also introduced. The effects of connectivity on vehicle/powertrain control and optimization are also elaborated. The Michigan Tech NEXTCAR project is also presented to provide a more detailed view of predictive vehicle/powertrain control enabled by CAV technologies. The U.S. Department of transportation (DOT) and other federal/state funding agencies have supported research and pilot deployment efforts to develop crosscutting CV technologies and evaluate the effectiveness of CV technologies in real-world transportation systems. The concurrent development of connected and automated vehicle technologies is anticipated to provide synergistic benefits to improve traffic safety, mobility, and energy efficiency. It is observed that increased CAV technologies are being deployed in real-world transportation systems.
Gears Steer New Engine Designs
Authors: Langston Lee S.
Published: March 2018

This article reviews the development of geared turbofan (GTF) engines. GTF engines have a hub-mounted epicyclic gearbox that drives the front-mounted fan at lower rotational speeds than the engine turbine section that powers the fan. The turbine driving the fan is most efficient at high-rotational speeds. The fan operates most efficiently and creates less noise at lower rpm. The operating gear reduction ratio also permits increasing the engine’s bypass ratio with larger fans. Gear trains are one of the oldest known machines, and none is more closely identified by the general public with the profession of mechanical engineering. Pratt & Whitney is in production of their first generation of GTF engines in the 18,000–30,000 lbt range, which power twin engine single-aisle, narrow body 70–200 passenger aircraft. The GTF combines existing jet engine technology with the well-established mechanical engineering technology of gears.
Accuracy of the quantities measured by four vocal dosimeters and its uncertainty
Authors: Bottalico Pasquale , Ipsaro Passione Ivano , Astolfi Arianna , Carullo Alessio , Hunter Eric J.
Published: March 2018

Although vocal dosimeters are often used for long-term voice monitoring, the uncertainty of the quantities measured by these devices is not always stated. In this study, two common vocal dosimetry quantities, mean vocal sound pressure level and mean vocal fundamental frequency, were measured by four vocal dosimeters (VocaLog2, VoxLog, Voice Care, and APM3200). The expanded uncertainty of the mean error in the estimation of these two quantities as measured by the four dosimeters was performed by simultaneously comparing signals acquired through a reference microphone and the devices themselves. Dosimeters, assigned in random order, were worn by the participants (22 vocally healthy adults), along with a head-mounted microphone, which acted as a reference. For each device, participants produced a sustained /a/ vowel four times and then read a text with three different vocal efforts (relaxed, normal, and raised). The measurement uncertainty was obtained by comparing data from the microphone and the dosimeters. The mean vocal sound pressure level was captured the most accurately by the Voice Care and the VoxLog while the APM3200 was the least accurate. The most accurate mean vocal fundamental frequency was estimated by the Voice Care and the APM3200, while the VoxLog was the least accurate.
The dynamic gammawarp auditory filterbank
Authors: Kates James M. , Prabhu Shashidhar
Published: March 2018

Auditory filterbanks are an integral part of many metrics designed to predict speech intelligibility and speech quality. Considerations in these applications include accurate reproduction of auditory filter shapes, the ability to reproduce the impact of hearing loss as well as normal hearing, and computational efficiency. This paper presents an alternative method for implementing a dynamic compressive gammachirp (dcGC) auditory filterbank [Irino and Patterson (2006). IEEE Trans. Audio Speech Lang. Proc. 14, 2222–2232]. Instead of using a cascade of second-order sections, this approach uses digital frequency warping to give the gammawarp filterbank. The set of warped finite impulse response filter coefficients is constrained to be symmetrical, which results in the same phase response for all filters in the filterbank. The identical phase responses allow the dynamic variation in the gammachirp filter magnitude response to be realized as a sum, using time-varying weights, of three filters that provide the responses for high-, mid-, and low-intensity input signals, respectively. The gammawarp filterbank offers a substantial improvement in execution speed compared to previous dcGC implementations; for a dcGC filterbank, the gammawarp implementation is 24 to 38 times faster than the dcGC Matlab code of Irino.
Lymph node metastases can invade local blood vessels, exit the node, and colonize distant organs in mice
Authors: Pereira Ethel R. , Kedrin Dmitriy , Seano Giorgio , Gautier Olivia , Meijer Eelco F. J. , Jones Dennis , Chin Shan-Min , Kitahara Shuji , Bouta Echoe M. , Chang Jonathan , Beech Elizabeth , Jeong Han-Sin , Carroll Michael C. , Taghian Alphonse G. , Padera Timothy P.
Published: March 2018

An alternate route for metastatic cells

Metastatic tumor cells are thought to reach distant organs by traveling through the blood circulation or the lymphatic system. Two studies of mouse models now suggest a hybrid route for tumor cell dissemination. Pereira
et al.
and Brown
et al.
used distinct methodologies to monitor the fate of tumor cells in lymph nodes. They found that tumor cells could invade local blood vessels within a node, exit the node by entering the blood circulation, then go on to colonize the lung. Whether this dissemination route occurs in cancer patients is unknown; the answer could potentially change the way that affected lymph nodes are treated in cancer.

Science
, this issue p.
1403
, p.
1408
The biosynthesis of methanobactin
Authors: Kenney Grace E. , Dassama Laura M. K. , Pandelia Maria-Eirini , Gizzi Anthony S. , Martinie Ryan J. , Gao Peng , DeHart Caroline J. , Schachner Luis F. , Skinner Owen S. , Ro Soo Y. , Zhu Xiao , Sadek Monica , Thomas Paul M. , Almo Steven C. , Bollinger J. Martin , Krebs Carsten , Kelleher Neil L. , Rosenzweig Amy C.
Published: March 2018

Using iron to generate a copper ligand

Many microbial enzymes are metal-dependent, and the microbe must acquire scarce metals from the environment. Microbes that use methane as a carbon source have a copper-dependent enzyme that oxidizes the methane. Peptides known as methanobactins (Mbns) acquire copper by using a pair of ligands comprising a nitrogen-containing ring and an adjacent thioamide. Kenney
et al.
describe the biosynthetic machinery that adds the copper-binding groups to a precursor peptide. This involves a complex of two homologs: MbnB, a member of a functionally uncharacterized protein family that includes a diiron cluster, and MbnC, which is even less well characterized. The iron cofactor is required for ligand synthesis. MbnB and MbnC homologs are encoded in many genomes, suggesting that they may have roles beyond Mbn biosynthesis.

Science
, this issue p.
1411
Targeting angiogenic metabolism in disease
Authors: Li Xuri , Carmeliet Peter
Published: March 2018

Targeting endothelial cell metabolism offers new therapeutic opportunities for various conditions