bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of supply chain risk: scale development and validation
Authors: Punniyamoorthy Murugesan , Thamaraiselvan Natarajan , Manikandan Lakshminarayanan 
Published: February 2013

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide a reliable and accurate instrument to assess the supply chain risk of similar comparable industries. This enables the firms which fall in this category of industry to identify and incorporate suitable risk sources under various risk constructs. This paper also provides a framework to the top management to prioritize the various risk constructs.Design/methodology/approachA systematic approach is used to develop and validate an instrument for assessing overall risk of supply chain. This includes specifying the domain and dimensionality of a construct, generation of initial pool of items, refinement of the initial items by the expert group, assessment of content validity, evaluation of reliability and construct validity of the scale items. Also a higher order measurement model of structural equation modeling is used to prioritize the various risk constructs.FindingsThe process yielded a robust instrument to assess overall risk of the supply chain. Through empirical verification, this instrument is shown to exhibit high levels of reliability and validity. The framework for prioritization of risk constructs revealed the importance of various supply chain risk constructs.Practical implicationsThe framework is intended to be useful in practice for assessment of overall risk of heavy engineering industries supply chain. The procedure will be extended for development of risk assessment instrument for other industries which shares a common risk profile. Prioritization of various risk constructs with respect to the overall risk enables the top management to focus their attention to plan and manage the supply chain risks based on their relative importance.Originality/valueThis paper fulfils an identified need for the development of an empirically validated instrument by identifying the significant supply chain risk sources under major supply chain risk constructs for assessing the supply chain risk of industries which are similar in their risk profiles. Also provides a higher order model to identify the most influential risk constructs.
Gross Anatomical Features of the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) of Blue and Yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna) – Oral Cavity and Pharynx
Authors: Aizawa J. , Tivane C. , Rodrigues M. N. , Wagner P. G. , Campos D. B. , Guerra R. R. , Miglino M. A. 
Published: February 2013

SummaryMorphological studies of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of blue and yellow macaws (Ara ararauna) are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to describe the macaw's oropharyngeal cavity in order to supply the deficiency of anatomical data and as part of a broad study of the GIT of these birds. Two male and one female adult blue and yellow macaws were anatomically dissected to expose the oropharynx. The macaw oropharynx was ‘V‐shaped’ and flattened laterally being composed of maxillary and mandibular rhamphotheca of the beak. The tongue, lingual frenulum and laryngeal mound (containing ‘spindle‐shaped’ glottis and prominent mucosal papillae) formed the floor of the oropharynx. The roof revealed two distinct regions separated by a ‘step‐like depression’, whereas in the floor, the mandibular rhamphotheca was separated from the oral cavity mucosa by a large vestibulum enclosing the lingual frenulum. The palate was hard without any signs of rugae nor palatine raphe. A smooth ridge extended caudally from the choana to the common opening of the Eustachian tubes. This study, in addition to confirming the basic features of the oropharynx previously described for birds in general, provided new, unreported morphological data, some of which may be important when studying nutrition and health of these birds.
Optimal Pricing Strategies for Capacity Leasing Based on Time and Volume Usage in Telecommunication Networks
Authors: Kasap Nihat , Sivrikaya Berna Tektas , Delen Dursun 
Published: February 2013

ABSTRACTIn this study, we examined optimal pricing strategies for “pay‐per‐time,” “pay‐per‐volume,” and “pay‐per‐both‐time‐and‐volume” based leasing of data networks in a monopoly environment. Conventionally, network capacity distribution includes short‐/long‐term bandwidth and/or usage time leasing. When customers choose connection‐time–based pricing, their rational behavior is to fully utilize the bandwidth capacity within a fixed time period, which may cause the network to burst (or overload). Conversely, when customers choose volume‐based strategies their rational behavior is to send only the minimum bytes necessary (even for time‐fixed tasks for real time applications), causing the quality of the task to decrease, which in turn creates an opportunity cost for the provider. Choosing a pay‐per time and volume hybridized pricing scheme allows customers to take advantage of both pricing strategies while lessening the disadvantages of each, because consumers generally have both time‐ and size‐fixed tasks such as batch data transactions. One of the key contributions of this study is to show that pay‐per both time and volume pricing is a viable and often preferable alternative to the offerings based on only time or volume, and that judicious use of such a pricing policy is profitable to the network provider.
Patients' perceptions and experiences of venous leg ulceration and their attitudes to larval therapy: an in‐depth qualitative study
Authors: McCaughan Dorothy , Cullum Nicky , Dumville Joanne ,   on behalf of the VenUS II team
Published: February 2013

AbstractBackgroundVenous leg ulcers are a common and distressing condition that can impair quality of life. Larval therapy has been widely promoted for the treatment of different types of chronic wounds, yet little is known about its acceptability to patients.ObjectivesTo explore patients' experiences of venous leg ulceration and of the acceptability of larval therapy as a treatment.DesignQualitative study, using semi‐structured interviews alongside a randomized controlled trial. Interview data were transcribed and analysed for thematic content. Data were collected from April 2007 to July 2007.Setting and participantsEighteen people (12 men, 6 women), aged between 29 and 93 years (median age 64 years), with at least one venous leg ulcer, took part in the study. Fourteen people were recruited from two vascular clinics (one attached to a hospital and the other located in a community setting). A further four people were recruited through referral from a team of community nurses.FindingsParticipants portrayed lives blighted by the presence of one or more leg ulcers. The majority were willing to try ‘maggots’ (larvae) and able to overcome feelings of squeamishness because of their strong desire to heal their ulcers. Five people treated with larvae were included in the study. Initial improvements in the condition of their ulcers were not sustained, and two participants experienced severe pain.Discussion and conclusionsPatients may hold unrealistic expectations that larval therapy will effect a longed‐for cure for their leg ulcer(s) but an absence of healing may lead to feelings of disappointment or despair.
Prenatal diagnosis of isolated congenital pyloric atresia in a sibling
Authors: Usui Noriaki , Kamiyama Masafumi , Kimura Takuya , Kamata Shinkichi , Nose Keisuke , Fukuzawa Masahiro 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAlthough familial occurrence of congenital pyloric atresia (CPA) has been frequently reported in the past, many of these cases were associated with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), and familial isolated CPA was a relatively rare condition. We prenatally diagnosed and successfully treated a sibling of a subject with isolated CPA, who was diagnosed prenatally by fetal ultrasonography based on the findings of a distended stomach combined with polyhydramnios. The first case was a 2398‐g female infant born at 36 weeks of gestation, who had been prenatally diagnosed as CPA. The second case, a younger sister of the first case, was a female infant weighing 2434 g, who had been also diagnosed as CPA by fetal ultrasonography at the check‐up for the polyhydramnios of the same mother. Neither of the infants showed dermal lesions such as EB, and both underwent pyloroplasty with an excision of the pyloric membrane successfully after birth.
Exploring the Association between Lifetime Prevalence of Mental Illness and Transition from Substance Use to Substance Use Disorders: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC)
Authors: Lev‐Ran Shaul , Imtiaz Sameer , Rehm Jürgen , Le Foll Bernard 
Published: February 2013

Background and ObjectivesThe association between substance use disorders (SUDs) and mental illness (MI) has been well established. Previous studies reporting this association in various clinical populations have not taken into account former substance use. This may be important as increased prevalence of substance use among individuals with MI may partially explain the strong association between SUDs and MI.MethodsIn this study we included only individuals with previous substance use and explored the association between lifetime diagnosis of MI and transition from substance use to SUDs. Analyses were conducted across six different categories of substances (alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants) based on a large representative US sample, the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC, n = 43,093).ResultsLifetime diagnoses of any MI, and particularly personality disorders and psychotic disorders, were found to be associated with higher prevalence of transition from substance use to SUDs across most categories of substances. This association was particularly strong for nicotine (adjusted OR = 2.95 (2.72–3.20)).Conclusions and Scientific SignificanceThis cross‐sectional study expands on previous research by highlighting the association between lifetime diagnosis of any MI and increased rates of transition from substance use to SUDs across a range of substances. Longitudinal studies exploring temporal effects of this association are further needed. (Am J Addict 2013;22:93‐98)
Differences between Men and Women in Condom Use, Attitudes, and Skills in Substance Abuse Treatment Seekers
Authors: Calsyn Donald A. , Peavy Michelle , Wells Elizabeth A. , Campbell Aimee N. C. , Hatch‐Maillette Mary A. , Greenfield Shelly F. , Tross Susan 
Published: February 2013

BackgroundFor substance abuse treatment‐seekers engaging in high risk sexual behavior, their inconsistent condom use may be related to their condom use attitudes and skills.ObjectiveThis study compared treatment‐seeking male and female substance abusers in their reported barriers to condom use and condom use skills.MethodsMen and women (N = 1,105) enrolled in two multi‐site HIV risk reduction studies were administered the Condom Barriers Scale, Condom Use Skills, and an audio computer‐assisted structured interview assessing sexual risk behavior.ResultsMen endorsed more barriers to condom use, especially on the Effects on Sexual Experience factor. For both men and women, stronger endorsement of barriers to condom use was associated with less use of condoms. However, the difference between condom users and non‐users in endorsement of condom barriers in general is greater for men than women, especially for those who report having casual partners.ConclusionsFindings support the need to focus on gender‐specific barriers to condom use in HIV/STI prevention interventions, especially risk behavior intervention techniques that address sexual experience with condoms.Scientific SignificanceResults provide additional information about the treatment and prevention needs of treatment‐seeking men and women. (Am J Addict 2013;22:150‐157)
Alcohol and Drug Use as Predictors of Intentional Injuries in Two Emergency Departments in British Columbia
Authors: Cherpitel Cheryl J. , Martin Gina , Macdonald Scott , Brubacher Jeffrey R. , Stenstrom Rob 
Published: February 2013

BackgroundWhile a substantial literature exists demonstrating a strong association of alcohol and intentional injury, less is known about the association of intentional injury with recreational drug use, either alone, or in combination with alcohol.ObjectivesThe risk of intentional injury due to alcohol and other drug use prior to injury is analyzed in a sample of emergency department (ED) patients.MethodsLogistic regression was used to examine the predictive value of alcohol and drug use on intentional versus non‐intentional injury in a probability sample of ED patients in Vancouver, BC (n = 436).ResultsThose reporting only alcohol use were close to four times more likely (OR = 3.73) to report an intentional injury, and those reporting alcohol combined with other drug(s) almost 18 times more likely (OR = 17.75) than those reporting no substance use. Those reporting both alcohol and drug use reported drinking significantly more alcohol (15.7 drinks) than those reporting alcohol use alone (5 drinks).ConclusionsThese data suggest that alcohol in combination with other drugs may be more strongly associated with intentional injury than alcohol alone.Conclusions and Scientific SignificanceThe strong association of alcohol combined with other drug use on injury may be due to the increased amount of alcohol consumed by those using both substances, and is an area requiring more research with larger samples of intentional injury patients. (Am J Addict 2013;22:87‐92)
Survey Research and Social Class in Venezuela: Evaluating Alternative Measures and Their Impact on Assessments of Class Voting
Authors: Handlin Samuel 
Published: February 2013

AbstractThe ascendance of the left in Latin America has sparked new interest in the politicization of social class. What factors should scholars consider in choosing and constructing measures of social class in survey research? To what degree can measurement affect results? This article evaluates several common measures in terms of validity and reliability. It then shows that alternative measures produce strikingly different results when examining class voting in Venezuela’s 2006 presidential election. Simple measures of household income or wealth, which fare poorly in validity assessment, suggest minimal levels of class voting. Various socioeconomic scales that also incorporate data on education and, in some cases, weights for household composition, suggest very high levels of class voting. The article provides guidelines for evaluating measures and illuminates the debate on class voting in Venezuela. Scholars have reached contradictory conclusions while using different measures, but the decisive role of measurement has gone unrecognized.
Richard Price, Bayes’ Theorem, and God
Authors: Hooper Martyn 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Bayes’ theorem is 250 years old this year. But did the Rev. Thomas Bayes actually devise it? Martyn Hooper presents the case for the extraordinary Richard Price, friend of US presidents, mentor, pamphleteer, economist, and above all preacher. And did Price develop Bayes’ theorem in order to prove the existence of God?
Effect of Physical Aging Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of Te2As3Se5 (TAS) Glass Fibers
Authors: Yang Guang , Sangleboeuf Jean‐Christophe , Boussard‐Plédel Catherine , Bureau Bruno 
Published: February 2013

Effect of three aging conditions, in dark, in light, and in light synchronously with load (with load), on the mechanical properties of Te2As3Se5 (TAS) glass have been investigated through a series of tensile strength (σ) measurements. Relief of σ in three aging conditions could be related to structural relaxation. And the relaxation time almost 1.5 months is well in agreement with our previous results of calorimetric and mechanical properties. Compared with dark condition, photoinduced effect makes the relief of σ more obvious, but load effect makes the σ to be stronger in direction of testing. Thus, we suggest that, to keep fibers with good σ, they should be stored in dark and with load.
Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using a Second‐Generation Cryoballoon Catheter: A Randomized Comparison of Ablation Duration and Method of Deflation
Authors: ANDRADE JASON G. , DUBUC MARC , GUERRA PETER G. , LANDRY EVELYN , COULOMBE NICOLAS , LEDUC HUGUES , RIVARD LÉNA , MACLE LAURENT , THIBAULT BERNARD , TALAJIC MARIO , ROY DENIS , KHAIRY PAUL 
Published: February 2013

Ablation Time and Active Cryoballoon Deflation IntroductionOptimal cryoballoon ablation parameters for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation remain to be defined. We conducted a randomized preclinical trial to compare 2‐ versus 4‐minute ablation lesions and assess the safety of active (forced) cryoballoon deflation.Methods and ResultsThirty‐two dogs underwent PV isolation with a second‐generation 23 mm cryoballoon catheter. The left superior (LSPV) and inferior (LIPV) PVs were randomized in a factorial design to (1) a single 2‐ versus 4‐minute cryoapplication, and (2) passive versus active cryoballoon deflation. Animals were survived for 30 days, after which histopathologic analysis was performed. Acute PV isolation was attained in 89.8% of PVs after a single application (93.8% LSPV, 85.2% LIPV; P = 0.2823). Mean time to PV isolation was 29.5 ± 18.5 seconds. Although 4‐minute lesions were associated with a thicker neointima than 2‐minute lesions (223.8 μm versus 135.6 μm; P = 0.007), no differences were observed in procedural characteristics (freezing temperature, rewarming time), rates of acute PV isolation, or the achievement of complete circumferentially transmural lesions at 30 days (78.7% overall; 86.2% for 2 minutes vs 70.0% for 4 minutes; P = 0.285). Active deflation was associated with faster balloon rewarming but not with significant differences in mean or maximum neointimal thickness.ConclusionA single application with the second‐generation cryoballoon catheter results in a high rate of PV isolation. The degree of vascular injury was not increased by active balloon deflation and no differences in acute efficacy or mature transmural circumferential lesions were observed with 2‐ versus 4‐minute applications.
Health‐Related Resource Use and Costs in Elderly Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Zhu Carolyn W. , Sano Mary , Ferris Steven H. , Whitehouse Peter J. , Patterson Marian B. , Aisen Paul S. 
Published: February 2013

ObjectivesTo assess differences in resource use and cost between older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) over time.DesignMulticenter, longitudinal study.SettingSixty‐eight Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) sites in the United States.ParticipantsTwo hundred fifty‐nine individuals diagnosed with MCI and 107 cognitively normal elderly adults followed annually for 3 years.MeasurementsThe Resource Use Instrument (RUI) was used to capture medical and nonmedical care use. Generalized linear latent and mixed models were used to estimate differences in resource use and costs in older adults with and without MCI after controlling for clinical and demographic characteristics.ResultsAt baseline, average annual direct medical cost per person was substantially higher for participants with MCI ($6,499) than for those without ($2,969) P < .001). Informal care use was also substantially higher (33% vs 8.4%, P < .001). Results from multivariate analyses of longitudinal data show that, after controlling for participant and informant characteristics, direct medical costs were 44% higher for participants with MCI than for those without. Participants with MCI were almost five times as likely to use informal care as those without. Number of medical conditions and older age were associated with higher medical cost. Worse functional and cognitive status, older age, being married, and being female were associated with higher likelihood of informal care use. Having an adult child informant was associated with higher likelihood of using informal care.ConclusionThe RUI captured differences in resource use and costs between individuals with and without MCI. Clinicians who care for individuals with MCI should address informal care needs early in the disease course.
Embryo zebrafish segmentation using an improved hybrid method
Authors: WU TAO , LU JIANFENG , LU YANTING , LIU TIANMING , YANG JINGYU 
Published: February 2013

SummaryZebrafish is an invaluable vertebrate model in life science research and has been widely used in biological pathway analysis, molecular screening and disease modelling, among others. As a result, microscopic imaging has become an essential step in zebrafish phenotype analysis, and image segmentation thus plays an important role in the zebrafish microscopy analysis. Due to the nonuniform distribution of intensity and weak boundary in zebrafish microscope images, the traditionally used segmentation methods may lead to unsatisfactory result. Here, a novel hybrid method that integrates region and boundary information into active contour model is proposed to segment zebrafish embryos from the background, which performs better than traditional segmentation models. Meanwhile, how to utilize the gradient information effectively in image segmentation is still an open problem. In this paper, we propose to improve the aforementioned hybrid method in two aspects. Firstly, the mean grey value of background is estimated by the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to constrain the active curve evolution. Secondly, an edge stopping function sensitive to gradient information is designed to stop curve evolution when the active curve reaches the embryo boundary. Experimental results show that the proposed methods can provide superior segmentation results compared to existing algorithms.
AZD1080, a novel GSK3 inhibitor, rescues synaptic plasticity deficits in rodent brain and exhibits peripheral target engagement in humans
Authors: Georgievska Biljana , Sandin Johan , Doherty James , Mörtberg Anette , Neelissen Jan , Andersson Anita , Gruber Susanne , Nilsson Yvonne , Schött Pär , Arvidsson Per I. , Hellberg Sven , Osswald Gunilla , Berg Stefan , Fälting Johanna , Bhat Ratan V. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractAbnormal tau phosphorylation resulting in detachment of tau from microtubules and aggregation are critical events in neuronal dysfunction, degeneration, and neurofibrillary pathology seen in Alzheimer's disease. Glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK3β) is a key target for drug discovery in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies because of its potential to abnormally phosphorylate proteins and contribute to synaptic degeneration. We report the discovery of AZD1080, a potent and selective GSK3 inhibitor that demonstrates peripheral target engagement in Phase 1 clinical studies. AZD1080 inhibits tau phosphorylation in cells expressing human tau and in intact rat brain. Interestingly, subchronic but not acute administration with AZD1080 reverses MK‐801‐induced deficits, measured by long‐term potentiation in hippocampal slices and in a cognitive test in mice, suggesting that reversal of synaptic plasticity deficits in dysfunctional systems requires longer term modifications of proteins downstream of GSK3β signaling. The inhibitory pattern on tau phosphorylation reveals a prolonged pharmacodynamic effect predicting less frequent dosing in humans. Consistent with the preclinical data, in multiple ascending dose studies in healthy volunteers, a prolonged suppression of glycogen synthase activity was observed in blood mononuclear cells providing evidence of peripheral target engagement with a selective GSK3 inhibitor in humans.