bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The strengths and weaknesses of gross and histopathological evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma: a brief review
Authors: Martins-Filho Sebastião N. , Alves Venâncio Avancini Ferreira 
Published: September 2019

AbstractCareful pathological analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens is essential for definitive diagnosis and patient prognostication. Tumor size and focality, gross patterns, macro- and microvascular invasion, degree of histological differentiation and expression of Keratin 19 (K19) are relevant features for risk stratification in this cancer and have been validated by multiple independent cohorts. However, there are important limitations to pathological analyses in HCC. First, liver biopsies are not recommended for diagnosis according to current clinical guidelines. Second, there is limited morphological data from patients at intermediate, advanced and terminal disease stages. Finally, there is little consensus on the evaluation of key histopathological features, notably histological grading (degree of differentiation). Here, we review important morphological aspects of HCC, provide insights to molecular events in relation to phenotypic findings and explore the current limitations to pathological analyses in this cancer.
Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women
Authors: Davis Susan R , Baber Rodney , Panay Nicholas , Bitzer Johannes , Perez Sonia Cerdas , Islam Rakibul M , Kaunitz Andrew M , Kingsberg Sheryl A , Lambrinoudaki Irene , Liu James , Parish Sharon J , Pinkerton JoAnn , Rymer Janice , Simon James A , Vignozzi Linda , Wierman Margaret E 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
This Position Statement has been endorsed by the International Menopause Society, The Endocrine Society, The European Menopause and Andropause Society, The International Society for Sexual Medicine, The International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health, The North American Menopause Society, The Federacion Latinoamericana de Sociedades de Climaterio y Menopausia, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The International Society of Endocrinology, The Endocrine Society of Australia, and The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.*
The use of Airpower on Humanitarian Operations: a case study in Brazil
Authors: Santos Rodrigo Antônio Silveira 
Published: September 2019

Goal: The main purpose of this research is to present the benefits reached with the use of airpower resources during humanitarian operations, in order to verify how the main airpower’s characteristics influenced the response stage of a natural disaster in Brazil.
Design / Methodology / Approach: A qualitative case study was conducted to evaluate benefits reached with the use of airpower during humanitarian operations. Primary and secondary data were gathered from operational reports provided by the Brazilian Air Force, from media coverage about the flood and waterlogging events happened in November 2008, in Itajai Valley, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Interviews with three informants involved in crisis response were also conducted. Data analysis processes were conducted to search codes about airpower engagement during humanitarian operations. Data coding followed an inductive approach and the codes emerged from data.
Results: The research concludes that the use of airpower can leverage crisis response capabilities during humanitarian operations, as airpower’s characteristics of speed, mobility, flexibility, penetration, range, and readiness meet the needs of humanitarian operations to respond to a natural disaster. The case study demonstrates an increase of operational capabilities after airpower engagement.
Limitations of the investigation: Only one crisis situation was studied, because the access to operational data provided by the Brazilian Air Force is restricted. Besides, it was not possible to analyze values and budgetary costs derived from airpower engagement.
Practical implications: The results of this research demonstrate that it is highly important to involve airpower during humanitarian operations, as it can leverage crisis response capabilities. In this way, humanitarian organizations can stablish new forms of relationship to national and local governments in order to quickly engage airpower resources on the response phase of natural disasters.
Originality/Value: This research presents an original contribution to the field of humanitarian operations as it presents real data in terms of the engagement of airpower resources during humanitarian operations.
Impact of the urban logistics and pedestrian mobility: Gamarra case, Peru
Authors: De Brito Junior Irineu , Huivin Jaime , Chong Mario 
Published: September 2019

Goals: This study focuses on assessing disaster risks in a typical inmegacity in Latin America. The baseline focuses on the logistics characteristics of the last mile, the vulnerability of buildings and the mobility of pedestrians.
Design / Methodology / Approach: A risk assessment procedure is developed using logistic metrics through a methodology that captures the most relevant urban information within a square kilometer, and two complementary methods that provide support to obtain metrics associated with the occurrence of disasters.
Results: The results show that the majority of blocks in the analyzed area have levels of precautionary risk due to their high level of store density, structure’s vulnerability, pedestrian movement and freight flow.
Limitations of the research: The main limitations for the data collection were the insecurity, the level of informality and the chaos presented in the studied area.
Practical implications: The main findings allow decision makers to know the most vulnerable areas of the place and, thus, propose recommendations for public policies based on urban knowledge. In addition, the proposed method can be taken as a reference to be applied to other zones of similar characteristics.
Originality / Value: This research develops a methodology that evaluates the risks and mitigates the impact on a specific unstudied commercial area, combining three existing methodologies to correctly asses risk on certain zones. This work is an extension of the work of Huivin et al. (2020); the added value is that it provides deeper literature reviewing that help decision-makers and researchers to know the actual state of the art.
Investment decisions in an oil refinery in Brazil under a real option approach
Authors: Lopes Carolina De Castro , Blank Frances Fischberg , Thomé Antonio Marcio Tavares , Valladão Davi Michel 
Published: September 2019

Goal: The objective of this article is twofold: (i) analyze the investment in a new refinery in Brazil and identify the optimal moment to invest; and (ii) model the crack spread adjusted to the Brazilian market.
Design / Methodology / Approach: The main uncertainties given by the crack spread and the foreign exchange rate were modeled as a continuous mean reversion model and geometric Brownian motion, respectively. The project was valued based on a real-option approach, including the option to postpone and the option to temporarily shut down. The first was assessed from analytical solution of the differential equation, while the latter was obtained from Monte Carlo simulation.
Results: The investment decision changes depending on the expiration date of the postponement option and the stochastic treatment of the initial investment. The temporary shutdown option increases the value of the refinery and may change the decision of postponement.
Limitations of the investigation: The crack spread was modeled based on international market because of limited availability of data from the Brazilian market. Additionally, results are dependent on the uncertainties and flexibilities modeled.
Practical implications: The analysis comprising both options is especially relevant because there are refinery projects discontinued in Brazil, and the country is an oil products’ importer.
Originality / Value: The paper contributes with an analysis in the refining industry considering the optimal moment to invest based on the interaction of two different options. Especially original is the crack spread modeling adapted to the Brazilian market.
Evaluation of green transport corridors of Brazilian soybean exports to China
Authors: Péra Thiago Guilherme , Bartholomeu Daniela Bacchi , Su Connie Tenin , Caixeta Filho José Vicente 
Published: September 2019

Goal: To evaluate the potential of strategies to promote green corridors of soybean exports from Brazil to China.
Design / Methodology / Approach: The best transportation corridors are evaluated in terms of minimum transportation cost and minimum CO2 emissions in transport. This problem was modelled as a linear programming problem and was solved by GAMS. It involves transporting soybeans from the producing farms in the Brazilian Center-West to the main Brazilian export ports and, subsequently, to China, through the various logistical infrastructures available.
Results: In general, strategies aimed to reduce CO2 emissions in the Brazilian soybean exports to China, and also promote the reduction of transport costs, as presented in the results of the different scenarios. Since the greatest impact on both indicators came from the use of Capesize ships, the study suggests that investments in port infrastructure to increase its vessel berthing capacity generate positive impacts, both in terms of lower transportation costs and CO2 emissions.
Limitations of the investigation: The producing regions were divided in mesoregions. The road distance considered is between the centroid of the producing region to the destination.
Practical implications: Especially in the scenarios of unrestricted transport infrastructure, the study suggests the configuration of optimum soybean flows, as well as the respective level of utilization of multimodal terminals. From the findings of the study, agents involved in the logistics of exporting soy to China can identify the investments in rail and port terminals necessary to a greener logistics.
Originality / Value: This work will contribute to the literature in the Green Supply Chain Management field of study, especially in a Brazilian perspective.
A sales and operations planning application in the Brazilian subsidiary of a multinational chemical company
Authors: Seeling Marcelo Xavier , Scavarda Luiz Felipe , Thomé Antonio Márcio Tavares 
Published: September 2019

Goal: the goal of this paper is to investigate how Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) is conducted in the Brazilian subsidiary of a global corporation of the chemical industry that manufactures and commercializes a variety of hygiene and cleaning consumer products.
Design/Methodology/Approach: the case study approach was adopted. Data was gathered during four months by means of visits to the organization for direct observation, interviews with key executives, and internal and public documents, guaranteeing data triangulation. A well-known framework from the literature is applied to analyze the S&OP practices performed by the organization.
Results: Findings contribute to aid in the understanding of the S&OP process. The case study indicates that S&OP has been a central process to organize and to align the enterprise’s efforts and deliver its business objectives.
Limitations of the investigation: the research is conducted within one single company, a Brazilian subsidiary of a multinational chemical corporation, which limits the generalization of the findings.
Practical implications: The research findings enhance the knowledge about S&OP providing practitioners with valuable information to understand better its phenomenon, such as how the process is performed, and the best practices and benefits.
Originality/Value: S&OP has been an object of interest of scholars and practitioners for decades. However, the process is far from being completely understood and there is a call for more empirical studies. Thus the academic literature can benefit from this in-depth research that sheds light on an S&OP industry application.
Lessons from empirical studies in supply chain flexibility: a maturity perspective
Authors: Mello Raquel , Hellingrath Bernd , Martins Roberto Antonio 
Published: September 2019

Goal: To analyze supply chain flexibility (SCF) within real-life settings from a maturity perspective and provide a discussion on the importance of a maturity model for SCF.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A multiple case study was conducted in multinational manufacturing companies from different business sectors, offering a within-case and cross-case analysis.
Results: The empirical evidence revealed that the studied companies do not consider flexibility measures. This absence renders difficulties when striving for external flexibility, for instance, affecting planning and control activities. Furthermore, the conducted analysis showed that sharing information among supply chain members has a significant impact on the identification of changes in the processes, enabling a correct and quick reaction to these changes.
Limitations of the investigation: The results are restricted to the studied companies; therefore, the SCF maturity model deserves more application through the development of more empirical investigations.
Practical implications: This is a guide for practitioners to identify the current maturity level of their SCF, and subsequently improve the processes, aiming to achieve the desired result.
Originality/Value: This paper addresses the lack of theoretical and empirical studies in the literature regarding the analysis of SCF maturity and its different levels, thus enabling practitioners and researchers to improve the understanding of maturity in the SCF context.
Social license to operate – the perspective of professionals from Brazilian extractive companies
Authors: Faria Marcio Carapeto Silveira , Neto Julio Vieira , Quelhas Adriane Domingues 
Published: September 2019

Goal: Contribute to the academic literature on the theme social license to operate, of the perception and experience of professionals from Brazilian extractive companies involved in the process.
Design / Methodology / Approach: In-depth interviews with professionals with great experience in community relations processes, evaluating their perception regarding social license to operate, especially with the companies they work.
Results: Two products are presented: a) illustration with a conceptual analysis of the terms related to the social license process to operate; b) basic model of community relationship based on recommendations of the professionals to obtain and maintain the social license to operate and the literature visited.
Limitations of the investigation: the survey heard 12 professionals with extensive experience in the extractive sector in Brazilian companies to understand how companies act and their perceptions regarding Social License to Operate (SLO). However, other important actors, such as communities, Nonprofit Organizations and community leaders were not heard throughout the research, and a corporate vision was presented throughout the article, but only against the literary review.
Practical implications: It presents a consistent picture regarding the behavior of companies in relation to SLO. It allows a better understanding of the relationship of concepts and terms that overlap in company practice and proposes a community relationship management model.
Originality / Value: The research brings an important contribution to the academic literature, when evaluating, from interviews with professionals in the extractive industry involved in the management of community relations, the way Brazilian extractive companies operate in this segment and the understanding with regard to SLO.
How well do Croatian laboratories adhere to national recommendations for laboratory diagnostics of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?
Authors: Radišić Biljak Vanja , Honović Lorena , Matica Jasminka , Krešić Branka , Šimić Vojak Sanela 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
In 2014, the Joint Croatian Working Group (JCWG) for laboratory diagnostic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) conducted a survey across medical-biochemistry laboratories which demonstrated a large heterogeneity in this area of laboratory medicine. To ensure the tools for the standardization process, in 2017 the JCWG-CKD published the first Croatian recommendations for laboratory diagnostics of CKD. To assess the implementation process, we have repeated a survey to explore how well laboratories adhere to the recommendations.

Methods
An invitation to the survey was sent to all Croatian medical-biochemistry laboratories (n = 196). The questionnaire was designed in a form of 19 questions and statements, with possible multiple answers.

Results
The response rate was 98/196 (50.0%). The predominant method for serum creatinine measurement was the standardized compensated Jaffe method (79.2%). There was substantial decrease in the number of laboratories which measure creatinine with the non-standardized uncompensated Jaffe method, compared with the initial 2014 assessment; 7% vs. 40%, respectively. The number of the laboratories that did not report estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values decreased almost by half compared to the initial data (37.6% vs. 74.4%). However, compared to the 2014 initial assessment, a similar number of laboratories (54/98 vs. 58/80) did not measure urine albumin or protein.

Conclusions
The collected data showed a substantial improvement in the standardization of the serum creatinine measurement, as well as in the reporting of eGFR. However, albuminuria or proteinuria assessment is still not implemented nationwide, mainly in primary health care laboratories. This demonstrates the importance of promoting and monitoring implementation of guidelines after publication.
Calcium state estimation by total calcium: the evidence to end the never-ending story
Authors: Pekar Jean-David , Grzych Guillaume , Durand Gatien , Haas Joël , Lionet Arnaud , Brousseau Thierry , Glowacki François , Maboudou Patrice 
Published: September 2019

Abstract

Background
Total blood calcium (TCa) is routinely used to diagnose and manage mineral and bone metabolism disorders. Numerous laboratories adjust TCa by albumin, though literature suggests there are some limits to this approach. Here we report a large retrospective study on agreement rate between ionized calcium (iCa) measurement and TCa or albumin-adjusted calcium measurements.

Methods
We retrospectively selected 5055 samples with simultaneous measurements of iCa, TCa, albumin and pH. We subgrouped our patients according to their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albumin levels and pH. We analyzed each patient’s calcium state with iCa as reference to determine agreement rate with TCa and albumin-adjusted calcium using Payne, Clase, Jain and Ridefelt formulas.

Results
The Payne formula performed poorly in patients with abnormal albumin, eGFR or pH levels. In patients with low albumin levels or blood pH disorders, Payne-adjusted calcium may overestimate the calcium state in up to 80% of cases. Similarly, TCa has better agreement with iCa in the case of hypoalbuminemia, but performed similarly to the Payne formula in patients with physiological albumin levels. The global agreement rate for Clase, Jain and Ridefelt formulas suggests significant improvement compared to Payne calcium adjustment but no significant improvement compared to TCa.

Conclusions
Total and albumin-adjusted calcium measurement leads to a misclassification of calcium status. Moreover, accurate calcium state determination depends on blood pH levels, whose measurement requires the same pre-analytical restrictions as iCa measurement. We propose that iCa should instead become the reference method to determine the real calcium state.
Impact of xanthan gum addition on phenolic acids composition and selected properties of new gluten-free maize-field bean pasta
Authors: Widelska Gabriela , Wójtowicz Agnieszka , Kasprzak Kamila , Dib Ahlem , Oniszczuk Tomasz , Olech Marta , Wojtunik-Kulesza Karolina , Nowak Renata , Sujak Agnieszka , Dobrzański Bohdan , Oniszczuk Anna 
Published: September 2019

AbstractReplacing the gluten network to produce high quality pasta is a great technological challenge. One of known solutions to the problem is the addition of xanthan gum. This paper focuses on the possibility of obtaining a new type of gluten-free maize-field bean pasta and explores the characteristics of phenolics content, antioxidant activity, cooking quality, textural and thermotropic behavior as well as the microstructure of pasta products with the various levels of added xanthan gum. The obtained results revealed that 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% addition of xanthan gum to pasta did not have significant influence on its phenolics content and antioxidant activity, whereas 1.00% addition caused a decrease in the tested parameters. On the other hand, the opposite effect of gum addition on the cooking quality, texture characteristic and microstructure was observed. The addition of xanthan gum to the formulation improved pasta quality while reducing the leaching of its components into the cooking water. Pasta prepared with 1.00% xanthan gum showed the lowest cooking loss, the highest firmness, and the lowest adhesiveness. These results revealed a significant influence of xanthan gum content on pasta properties as confirmed by the thermal analysis and SEM microstructure observations.
The effect of selected substances on the stability of standard solutions in voltammetric analysis of ascorbic acid in fruit juices
Authors: Kowalski Radosław , Mazurek Artur , Pankiewicz Urszula , Włodarczyk-Stasiak Marzena , Sujka Monika , Wyrostek Jakub , Kałwa Klaudia 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThe objective of the study was to identify suitable additives stabilizing standard solutions of ascorbic acid (AA) that would not cause interference in the analytical process with the use of voltammetry in the determination of the AA content in food products. In addition, the effect of various conditions of storage of selected fruit juices and drinks on the concentration of vitamin C was studied. The study demonstrated that AA degradation was inhibited the most effectively by tartaric acid and its optimum concentration was set to 200 mg L-1. Analysis of selected fruit juices stored in various temperature conditions confirmed that an elevation of temperature and extension of the time of storage caused a decrease in the content of vitamin C in the analyzed samples, while closing the packages caused a limitation of the changes in concentration of this vitamin. On the basis of literature data and of the results obtained in the present study it can be concluded that fruit juices should be stored at a temperature lower than room temperature to retain their nutritive value.