bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficient purchaser incentive when dealing with suppliers implementing continuous improvement plans
Authors: Kerbache Laoucine , van Delft Christian 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis paper presents incentive schemes in the framework of a collaborative purchasing cost reduction process with a supplier implementing a continuous improvement plan. Using a stochastic decision process formulation, we analyze the structure of the optimal policy and characterize its numerical robustness through numerical applications solved by dynamic programming. Then, we analyze two purchaser incentive schemes observed in practice. First, we describe some theoretical properties of the policies associated with these two schemes (schemes I and II) and show that these policies exhibit nonoptimal structures. Second, we estimate the quantitative loss for typical parameter values and, in particular, we show that for certain businesses this loss is significant. Then, we propose two easy‐to‐implement improvements (schemes III and IV), which result in near‐optimal solutions and a significant impact on purchasing cost performances.
Is a Penny Spent a Penny Earned? Comparing Predicted to Actual Disability Insurance Savings in the Ticket to Work Program
Authors: Burns Alice 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis article compares Disability Insurance (DI) savings to those projected in the Congressional Budget Office cost estimate accompanying the Ticket to Work (TTW) authorizing legislation. Enacted with the goal of promoting employment among DI beneficiaries, TTW savings were close to predicted savings, but economic conditions reduced the impact. These findings suggest vocational rehabilitation policies need to incorporate strategies to address economic downtowns if they are to promote long‐term independence. This article highlights some of the challenges inherent to evaluations conducted without an experimental research design, while illustrating the potential of ex post analyses to assess whether expected savings materialize.
Economic Envy
Authors: Morgan‐Knapp Christopher 
Published: November 2013

AbstractEnvy of others' material possessions is a potent motivator of consumerism. This makes it a prudentially and morally hazardous emotional response. After outlining these hazards, I present an analysis of the emotion of envy. Envy, I argue, presents things in the following way: the envier lacks some good that her rival possesses; this difference between them is bad for the envier; this difference reflects poorly on the envier's worth; and this difference is undeserved. I then discuss the conditions under which these presentations can be satisfied by differences in material possessions. My conclusion is that no difference in material possessions can simultaneously be all the ways envy presents it as being. Consequently, economic envy is systematically irrational: it is never a warranted response to the distribution of material wealth. Recognising this bolsters the prudential and moral case for reducing the degree to which we feel it and for resisting the inclinations it gives rise to when we do.
Insults, Free Speech and Offensiveness
Authors: Archard David 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThis article examines what is wrong with some expressive acts, ‘insults’. Their putative wrongfulness is distinguished from the causing of indirect harms, aggregated harms, contextual harms, and damaging misrepresentations. The article clarifies what insults are, making use of work by Neu and Austin, and argues that their wrongfulness cannot lie in the hurt that is caused to those at whom such acts are directed. Rather it must lie in what they seek to do, namely to denigrate the other. The causing of offence is at most evidence that an insult has been communicated; it is not independent grounds of proscription or constraint. The victim of an insult may know that she has been insulted but not accept or agree with the insult, and thereby submit to the insulter. Hence insults need not, as Waldron argues they do, occasion dignitary harms. They do not of themselves subvert their victims' equal moral status. The claim that hateful speech endorses inequality should not be conflated with a claim that such speech directly subverts equality.Thus, ‘wounding words’ should not unduly trouble the liberal defender of free speech either on the grounds of preventing offence or on those of avoiding dignitary harms.
Vitamin C suppresses cell death in MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells induced by tamoxifen
Authors: Subramani Tamilselvan , Yeap Swee Keong , Ho Wan Yang , Ho Chai Ling , Omar Abdul Rahman , Aziz Suraini Abdul , Rahman Nik Mohd. Afizan Nik Abd. , Alitheen Noorjahan Banu 
Published: November 2013

AbstractVitamin C is generally thought to enhance immunity and is widely taken as a supplement especially during cancer treatment. Tamoxifen (TAM) has both cytostatic and cytotoxic properties for breast cancer. TAM engaged mitochondrial oestrogen receptor beta in MCF‐7 cells and induces apoptosis by activation of pro‐caspase‐8 followed by downstream events, including an increase in reactive oxygen species and the release of pro‐apoptotic factors from the mitochondria. In addition to that, TAM binds with high affinity to the microsomal anti‐oestrogen‐binding site and inhibits cholesterol esterification at therapeutic doses. This study aimed to investigate the role of vitamin C in TAM‐mediated apoptosis. Cells were loaded with vitamin C by exposure to dehydroascorbic acid, thereby circumventing in vitro artefacts associated with the poor transport and pro‐oxidant effects of ascorbic acid. Pre‐treatment with vitamin C caused a dose‐dependent attenuation of cytotoxicity, as measured by acridine‐orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) and Annexin V assay after treatment with TAM. Vitamin C dose‐dependently protected cancer cells against lipid peroxidation caused by TAM treatment. By real‐time PCR analysis, an impressive increase in FasL and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) mRNA was detected after TAM treatment. In addition, a decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential was observed. These results support the hypothesis that vitamin C supplementation during cancer treatment may detrimentally affect therapeutic response.
LRP5 negatively regulates differentiation of monocytes through abrogation of Wnt signalling
Authors: Borrell‐Pagès Maria , Romero July Carolina , Badimon Lina 
Published: November 2013

AbstractMolecular changes involved in cell differentiation are only partially known. Circulating inflammatory cells need to differentiate to perform specialized functions in target tissues. Here, we hypothesized that low‐density lipoprotein receptor–related protein 5 (LRP5) is involved, through its participation in the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signalling, in the differentiation process of monocytic cells. To this aim, we characterized differentiation mechanisms of HL60 cells and primary human monocytes. We show that silencing the LRP5 gene increased differentiation of HL60 cells and human monocytes, suggesting that LRP5 signalling abrogates differentiation. We demonstrate that the mechanisms behind this blockade include sequestration of β‐catenin at the cellular membrane, inhibition of the Wnt signalling and increase of apoptosis. We further demonstrate the involvement of LRP5 and the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling in the process because cellular differentiation can be rescued by the addition of downstream Wnt target genes to the monocytic cells.
Telocytes in liver: electron microscopic and immunofluorescent evidence
Authors: Xiao Junjie , Wang Fei , Liu Zhenguo , Yang Changqing 
Published: November 2013

AbstractHepatic interstitial cells play a vital role in regulating essential biological processes of the liver. Telocytes (TCs), a novel type of interstitial cells firstly identified by Popescu and his coworkers, have been reported in many tissues and organs, but not yet in liver (go to http://www.telocytes.com). We used transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence (double labelling for CD34 and c‐kit/CD117, or vimentin, or PDGF Receptor‐α, or β) to provide evidence for the existence of TCs in mice liver. The distribution of TCs in liver was found to be of similar density in the four hepatic lobes. In conclusion, here we show the presence of TCs in mice liver. It remains to be determined the possible roles of TCs in the control of liver homeostasis and regeneration, the more so as a close special relationship was found between TCs and hepatic putative stem (progenitor) cells.
Long‐term emollient therapy improves xerosis in children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Boralevi F. , Saint Aroman M. , Delarue A. , Raudsepp H. , Kaszuba A. , Bylaite M. , Tiplica G.S. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundHydration with topical emollients forms the backbone of treatment for mild atopic dermatitis (AD), but few randomized controlled trials have assessed their efficacy in young children.ObjectivesAssess the efficacy and tolerability of long‐term emollient therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe xerosis in young children with AD.MethodsThis was a phase III, multicentre, double‐blind, randomized, vehicle‐controlled trial. Children (n = 251) aged 2–6 years with AD‐associated xerosis were randomized 1 : 1 to a 28‐day treatment with an emollient combining glycerol and paraffin or its vehicle. Non‐responders at the end of the double‐blind period were treated open label with emollient until day 84. Responders stopped treatment until reassessment on day 56. Those who relapsed after stopping treatment were treated open label with emollient until day 84.ResultsDuring the double‐blind period, xerosis score (XS) of the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index, objective SCORAD and visual analogue score decreased and skin hydration increased more in the emollient group than in the vehicle group (P < 0.001 for all measures). More patients were responders with emollient than with vehicle (66.1% vs. 45.6%, P < 0.001). During the open‐label period, stopping emollient treatment led to relapse but improvement returned if treatment was restarted with emollient. Regular use of the emollient also yielded improvement in children who did not initially respond. Adverse events were similar in the two groups, and no treatment‐related severe adverse events were reported.ConclusionsLong‐term therapy with emollient is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of xerosis in children with atopic dermatitis.
Modeling, Simulation and Control of Pink Guava Puree Pasteurization Process with Fouling as Disturbance
Authors: Wan Mokhtar W.M.F. , Taip F.S. , Abdul Aziz N. , Mohd Noor S.B. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractFouling is an unwanted deposit on a heat exchanger surface which may cause inefficiency to the heat exchanger's performance in maintaining the outlet product temperature during pasteurization. In order to deal with this problem, fouling must be handled by an efficient control strategy. In this study, an empirical model of fouling was successfully developed and used in a control system. The obtained model is represented by first order plus time delay model with R2 = 0.90. Several proportional‐integral‐derivative (PID) controllers were then simulated on this model to determine the best control system. Simulation results showed that an ideal PID controller tuned by minimization of integral absolute error (IAE) method exhibited good performance in disturbance rejection of fouling with settling time reduced and robustness improved. This result provides insights to properly design a control strategy dealing with fouling during pasteurization.Practical ApplicationsPasteurization is one of the food preservation techniques which is commonly applied in beverage and food industries. The outlet product temperature from this process is a crucial parameter that must be controlled to satisfy the industrial standard. However, fouling deposit that occurs during pasteurization process hinders the temperature from reaching the desired value. Hence, a good controller should be designed in order to address this issue. In this study, a control strategy was investigated to deal with fouling problem by using simulation work. The simulation results obtained can be integrated in control strategy design for beverage and food industries. Furthermore, with an enhanced control strategy, product quality is ensured as well as improving efficiency in plant's energy consumption.
Cognitive Dysfunction and Greater Visit‐to‐Visit Systolic Blood Pressure Variability
Authors: Epstein Noam U. , Lane Kathleen A. , Farlow Martin R. , Risacher Shannon L. , Saykin Andrew J. , Gao Sujuan 
Published: November 2013

ObjectivesTo determine whether variability in blood pressure (BP) is negatively associated with performance on cognitive testing.DesignMultinational, longitudinal, observational cohort study.SettingThe Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative study.ParticipantsIndividuals with a screening diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or normal cognition (N = 626).MeasurementsMean, variance, and maximum BP were calculated based on measures collected from screening to 36 months. Analysis of covariance models were used to determine the association between BP measures and cognitive scores at 36 months after adjusting for covariates.ResultsGreater variability in systolic (P < .05) but not diastolic (P > .18) BP was associated with worse global (Modified Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Component and Clinical Dementia Rating sum of boxes) and executive (Trail‐Making Test Part B, Animal Fluency, and Vegetable Fluency) function and episodic memory (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test Total Score).ConclusionThere is a clinically significant association between greater systolic BP variability and greater cognitive dysfunction. These results should be verified in other well‐characterized cohorts, and the neuroanatomical pathophysiology underlying the observed greater cognitive impairment should be further explored.
Calcium‐vitamin D‐fortified milk is as effective on circulating bone biomarkers as fortified juice and supplement but has less acceptance: a randomised controlled school‐based trial
Authors: Neyestani T. R. , Hajifaraji M. , Omidvar N. , Nikooyeh B. , Eshraghian M. R. , Shariatzadeh N. , Kalayi A. , Khalaji N. , Zahedirad M. , Abtahi M. , Asadzadeh S. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundHypovitaminosis D, especially during cold seasons, is quite prevalent among primary school children in Tehran. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of calcium‐vitamin D‐fortified‐milk, ‐orange juice and supplement in primary school children.MethodsChildren aged 9–12 years from both sexes were randomly assigned to one of six groups to receive plain milk, fortified milk, plain orange juice, fortified orange juice, supplement or placebo. Both fortified‐milk and ‐juice contained 100 IU of vitamin D and 500 mg of calcium per 200 mL package, whereas supplement contained 200 IU of vitamin D and 500 mg of calcium. The duration of intervention was 12 weeks, from November 2008 to March 2009.ResultsA total of 410 children completed the study. Regression analysis with adjustment for both sex and initial values of 25(OH)D revealed that consumption of either supplement, fortified orange juice or fortified milk resulted in a 20.8 nm [confidence interval (CI) = 17.4–23.9], 9.9 nm (CI = 7.4–12.3) or 6.9 nm (CI = 3.3–10.5) increase in circulating 25(OH)D compared to the related control groups. However, changes in serum osteocalcin and intact parathyroid hormone in the supplement group did not differ from those of fortified milk or plain milk. The increment of osteocalcin in both plain milk and fortified milk was more than in fortified orange juice, although the difference was statistically insignificant.ConclusionsDespite having double amount of vitamin D and being more effective in raising serum 25(OH)D, supplementation did not confer additional benefit in terms of osteocalcin and intact parathyroid hormone compared to either fortified or plain milk.
Impact of a hormone‐releasing intrauterine system on the vaginal microbiome: a prospective baboon model
Authors: Hashway S.A. , Bergin I.L. , Bassis C.M. , Uchihashi M. , Schmidt K.C. , Young V.B. , Aronoff D.M. , Patton D.L. , Bell J.D. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractBackgroundUse of a levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine system (LNG‐IUS) in humans may alter vaginal microbial populations and susceptibility to pathogens. This study evaluated the time‐dependent effects of an LNG‐IUS on the vaginal microbiome of the baboon, a useful animal model for reproductive studies.MethodsLevonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine systems were inserted into three reproductively mature, female baboons. The animals were evaluated for 6 months by physical examination and Gram‐stained cytology. The vaginal microbiota was characterized at each timepoint by culture‐independent analysis of the 16S rRNA‐encoding gene.ResultsEach baboon harbored a diverse vaginal microbiome. Interindividual variation exceeded intra‐individual variation. Diversity declined over time in one baboon and showed mild fluctuations in the other two. There were no significant community differences from early to late post‐LNG‐IUS placement.ConclusionsThe baboon vaginal microbiome is unique to each individual and is polymicrobial. In this pilot study, the vaginal microbiome remained stable from early to late post‐LNG‐IUS placement.
Microtubules in neurons as information carriers
Authors: Dent Erik W. , Baas Peter W. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractMicrotubules in neurons consist of highly dynamic regions as well as stable regions, some of which persist after bouts of severing as short mobile polymers. Concentrated at the plus ends of the highly dynamic regions are microtubule plus end tracking proteins called +TIPs that can interact with an array of other proteins and structures relevant to the plasticity of the neuron. It is also provocative to ponder that short mobile microtubules might similarly convey information with them as they transit within the neuron. Thus, beyond their known conventional functions in supporting neuronal architecture and organelle transport, microtubules may act as ‘information carriers’ in the neuron.
imageWe review here the possibility of neuronal microtubules acting as “information carriers”, conveying biochemical factors within axons and dendrites. The more dynamic regions of longer microtubules associate at their plus ends with information‐rich proteins called +TIPs that can be deposited or interact with other proteins or structures encountered by the microtubule as it assembles. Short stable microtubules that transit within the axon (and presumably the dendrite) may also serve as vehicles for the delivery of such information. Microtubules are broadly known for their roles in architecture and transport, and we posit that such a role as information carriers may be a third major role for microtubules in neurons.
Virtual tissue alignment and cutting plane definition – a new method to obtain optimal longitudinal histological sections
Authors: Danz J. C. , Habegger M. , Bosshardt D. D. , Katsaros C. , Stavropoulos A. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractHistomorphometric evaluation of the buccal aspects of periodontal tissues in rodents requires reproducible alignment of maxillae and highly precise sections containing central sections of buccal roots; this is a cumbersome and technically sensitive process due to the small specimen size. The aim of the present report is to describe and analyze a method to transfer virtual sections of micro‐computer tomographic (CT)‐generated image stacks to the microtome for undecalcified histological processing and to describe the anatomy of the periodontium in rat molars. A total of 84 undecalcified sections of all buccal roots of seven untreated rats was analyzed. The accuracy of section coordinate transfer from virtual micro‐CT slice to the histological slice, right–left side differences and the measurement error for linear and angular measurements on micro‐CT and on histological micrographs were calculated using the Bland–Altman method, interclass correlation coefficient and the method of moments estimator. Also, manual alignment of the micro‐CT‐scanned rat maxilla was compared with multiplanar computer‐reconstructed alignment. The supra alveolar rat anatomy is rather similar to human anatomy, whereas the alveolar bone is of compact type and the keratinized gingival epithelium bends apical to join the junctional epithelium. The high methodological standardization presented herein ensures retrieval of histological slices with excellent display of anatomical microstructures, in a reproducible manner, minimizes random errors, and thereby may contribute to the reduction of number of animals needed.
CANTILLON AND HUME ON MONEY AND BANKING: THE FOUNDATIONS OF TWO THEORETICAL TRADITIONS
Authors: Le Maux Laurent 
Published: November 2013

AbstractThe distinction between the ‘classical’ monetary theory and ‘quantity’ theory has been proposed in literature on money and banking. The overall feature of the classical theory of money is that it holds one principle of regulation for each kind of issue (metallic money, bank issues and paper money) whereas the quantity theory applied the causality and proportionality postulates for all kinds of monies. Without claiming to adjudicate the validity of such a distinction, the paper investigates the foundation of each tradition. In this respect, this paper, respectively, examines, and provides a survey of the secondary literature on, Cantillon's Essai and the Hume's Discourses.
MR Venography in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Correlation with Clinical and MRI Parameters
Authors: Raz Eytan , Pontecorvo Simona , Barra Veronica , Marincola Beatrice Cavallo , Morreale Manuela , Tinelli Emanuele , Saba Luca , Di Paolo Pier Luigi , Aceti Alessandro , Catalano Carlo , Francia Ada , Caramia Francesca 
Published: November 2013

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSEMultiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. We aim to evaluate the correlation between extracranial veins stenosis evaluated with MR venography (MRV) and clinical/MR parameters of MS.METHODSIn 29 consecutive MS patients we performed a standard brain MRI protocol, completed by the evaluation of extra‐cerebral venous system using a phase‐contrast and a Volumetric Interpolated Breath Hold Examination (VIBE) sequence before and after gadolinium. The T2‐proton density images were used to calculate the lesion volume. The jugular veins were evaluated qualitatively (in terms of presence and severity of stenoses) and quantitatively (degree of stenosis). The phase‐contrast images were analyzed to calculate the average and peak velocity in the internal jugular veins.RESULTSPostcontrast VIBE successfully showed the jugular veins in all the subjects. T2‐lesion‐volume was 8.2 [4.6] cm3. A stenosis of the internal jugular veins > of 50% was observed in 10/29(33%) patients. No significant correlation was observed between T2‐lesion‐volume and degree‐of‐stenosis (r = .362, P = .302). No different flow parameters were found in the subgroups of patients with and without stenosis (P = .54).CONCLUSIONSIn MS the presence/severity of jugular vein stenosis identified with 3T‐MRV is not related to MR‐visible tissue damage. Moreover no abnormal flow parameters were found in stenosed veins.