bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Theory and Practice of Corporate Risk Management*
Authors: Servaes Henri , Tamayo Ane , Tufano Peter 
Published: December 2009

The financial crisis of 2008 and the resulting recession caught many companies unprepared and, in so doing, provided a stark reminder of the importance of effective risk management. While academic theory has long touted the benefits of risk management, companies have varied greatly in the ways and extent to which they put theory into practice.Drawing on a global survey of over 300 CFOs of non‐financial companies, the authors report that while most CFOs felt that their risk management programs have significant benefits, the risk management function in general needs more attention. A large percentage of the finance executives surveyed acknowledged that the most important corporate risks extend far beyond the CFO's direct reports, and that risk‐based thinking is not incorporated into everyday business activities or corporate strategies. A large majority of executives also said they were seeking a more widespread understanding of risk throughout their organizations—and many confessed their firms' inability, or lack of interest, in evaluating their own risk management functions. At the same time, the efforts of most companies to develop enterprise‐wide risk management (ERM) programs were said to fall well short of the comprehensive and highly coordinated programs envisioned by the proponents of such programs.Three areas of opportunity were clearly identified as having potential to improve corporate risk management in ways that increase firm value over an entire business cycle:

Incorporate risk management thinking into the strategic planning process. Line executives, and not just technicians, need to be sensitive to risks, thereby building flexibility into the firm's business plan and its execution.
Clearly define the objectives of the risk management function, in part by developing appropriate benchmarks. The risk management process should be subject to the same rigorous evaluation process that is used when measuring risks throughout the business.
Instill a risk management culture throughout the organization. While an effective risk management function is necessary, only when employees at all levels of the company embrace risk management as part of their daily operations will the firm get maximum value from risk management.
Effect of β‐Blocker Therapy on Survival in PatientsWith Severe Aortic Regurgitation: Results From a Cohort of 756 Patients
Authors: Harris Scott , Tepper David , Ip Randy 
Published: December 2009

Abstract.  Objectives.  The authors sought to investigate the effect of β‐blocker (BB) therapy on survival in patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR)Background BBs are thought to be contraindicated in patients with AR because a slower heart rate increases the duration of diastole, during which AR occurs. But AR also causes neuroendocrine activation similar to a heart failure state, for which BBs are potentially beneficial.Methods This is an observational study. An echocardiographic database was screened for patients with severe AR. Detailed chart reviews were performed for clinical, demographic, and therapeutic data. Mortality data were obtained from the Social Security Death Index and analyzed as a function of BB therapy.Results Overall, 355 (47%) of the 756 patients with severe AR were taking a BB, mean age was 61±18 years, and mean ejection fraction was 54%±19%. Over a mean follow‐up of 4.5 years, BB therapy was associated with a higher survival rate (1‐ and 5‐year survival rates of 90% and 70%, respectively) compared with those without (1‐ and 5‐year survival rates of 75% and 55%, respectively) (P=.0009). The Cox regression model showed that BB therapy was an independent predictor of better survival after adjusting for age, sex, heart rate, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, renal insufficiency, ejection fraction, and aortic valve replacement (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.58–0.93; P=.01). The survival benefit of BB therapy was further supported by propensity score analysis.Conclusions This observational study strongly suggests that BB therapy is associated with a survival benefit in patients with severe AR.
The Impact of Changing ICD Code on Hypertension‐Related Mortality in the Southeastern United States from 1994–2005
Authors: Joyner‐Grantham JaNae , Simmons Debra R. , Moore Michael A. , Ferrario Carlos M. 
Published: December 2009

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:213–222. ©2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Confusion surrounding cardiovascular disease trends arises when measurement and reporting of classification systems such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code are revised. The current study examined the impact of ICD code revision on mortality trends for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes in 16 Southeast states using data published in the 1994–2005 Centers for Disease Control National Vital Statistics Reports. Data were averaged by year and analyzed separately before (1994–1998) and after (1999–2005) the ICD code change, pooled across codes using comparability ratios (1994–2005), and further compared at the year of ICD code change using standard error of 1998 data to determine whether corresponding 1999 rates fell within 95% confidence intervals. The change in classification did not alter Southeast US trends regarding a decrease in heart disease and cerebrovascular disease rates and an increase in diabetes mortality in years 1994–2005. On the other hand, the change in ICD code classification systems did impact mortality rates for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes, suggesting that change in code to ICD‐10 in 1999 underestimates heart disease and cerebrovascular disease and overestimates diabetes mortality rates in the Southeast United States. Health and disease burden profiles, which use mortality data to measure health status, need to carefully evaluate and report the influence of ICD code revisions as they draw conclusions. Primary care health providers should question the impact and comparability of ICD revision before accepting mortality trend conclusions.
From Charity to Bienfaisance: Picturing Good Deeds in Late Eighteenth‐Century France
Authors: BARKER EMMA 
Published: December 2009

AbstractThis article explores the proliferation of engraved images of good deeds on behalf of the poor in late eighteenth‐century France. This phenomenon testifies to the vogue for bienfaisance, a newly coined term that played a central role in the moral and social discourse of the period. The aim here is to demonstrate how such images at once exemplified the humanitarian and utilitarian ideals of bienfaisance and contributed to their exploitation by the wealthy and powerful for purposes of self‐legitimation. Among the examples discussed are images celebrating the bienfaisance of Mme Necker, Beaumarchais, Louis XVI and the duc d'Orléans.
Thinking Big, Going Global: The Challenge of BRAC's Global Expansion
Authors: Hossain Naomi , Sengupta Anasuya 
Published: December 2009

SummarySince 2002, BRAC, a non‐governmental organisation (NGO) of Bangladeshi origin, has gone global. It has expanded its programme of ‘microfinance plus’ (education, health, enterprise support, etc) to Afghanistan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Pakistan. It has established organisations in the UK and the USA to raise funds and its international profile. It is believed to be the largest NGO in Afghanistan, is growing fast elsewhere, and has long been the largest non‐governmental entity in Bangladesh. BRAC's global expansion appears to be part of a trend of the ‘South in the South’, marked by the expansion of Chinese business in Africa, but also, it seems, by new forms of Southern non‐governmental organisation transplanted across Southern contexts. This paper explores two challenges of BRAC's global expansion. The first is the challenges BRAC faces as it seeks to break new ground as the first International NGO of Southern origin to take its programme and managerial expertise to other countries. It is an ambitious agenda. A critical challenge is the need to attract financing and carve out regulatory room for service delivery programmes within new political spaces that are sometimes unfamiliar with and unwelcoming of NGOs on the BRAC scale. The second challenge of the title is the challenge to thinking about NGOs in development: discussions about NGOs in development currently emphasise disappointment with their performance, and a withdrawal, including among aid donors and discourses, from their ‘magic bullet’ heyday of the late 1990s. While BRAC's global expansion is facing challenges, its ambitious expansionary programme counters disappointment around NGOs, raising new questions about the roles of NGOs in development.
Generalized Asymptotic Pointwise Contractions and Nonexpansive Mappings Involving Orbits
Authors: Nicolae Adriana 
Published: December 2009

AbstractWe give fixed point results for classes of mappings that generalize pointwise contractions, asymptotic contractions, asymptotic pointwise contractions, and nonexpansive and asymptotic nonexpansive mappings. We consider the case of metric spaces and, in particular, CAT"Equation missing" spaces. We also study the well-posedness of these fixed point problems.
Quantified Tumor T1 Is a Generic Early-Response Imaging Biomarker for Chemotherapy Reflecting Cell Viability
Authors: McSheehy Paul M.J. , Weidensteiner Claudia , Cannet Catherine , Ferretti Stephane , Laurent Didier , Ruetz Stephan , Stumm Michael , Allegrini Peter R. 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
Purpose: Identification of a generic response biomarker by comparison of chemotherapeutics with different action mechanisms on several noninvasive biomarkers in experimental tumor models.
Experimental Design: The spin-lattice relaxation time of water protons (T1) was quantified using an inversion recovery-TrueFISP magnetic resonance imaging method in eight different experimental tumor models before and after treatment at several different time points with five different chemotherapeutics. Effects on T1 were compared with other minimally invasive biomarkers including vascular parameters, apparent diffusion coefficient, and interstitial fluid pressure, and were correlated with efficacy at the endpoint and histologic parameters.
Results: In all cases, successful chemotherapy significantly lowered tumor T1 compared with vehicle and the fractional change in T1 (ΔT1) correlated with the eventual change in tumor size (range: r2 = 0.21, P &lt; 0.05 to r2 = 0.73, P &lt; 0.0001), except for models specifically resistant to that drug. In RIF-1 tumors, interstitial fluid pressure was decreased, but apparent diffusion coefficient and permeability increased in response to the microtubule stabilizer patupilone and 5-fluorouracil. Although ΔT1 was small (maximum of −20%), the variability was very low (5%) compared with other magnetic resonance imaging methods (24-48%). Analyses ex vivo showed unchanged necrosis, increased apoptosis, and decreased %Ki67 and total choline, but only Ki67 and choline correlated with ΔT1. Correlation of Ki67 and ΔT1 were observed in other models using patupilone, paclitaxel, a VEGF-R inhibitor, and the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus.
Conclusions: These results suggest that a decrease in tumor T1 reflects hypocellularity and is a generic marker of response. The speed and robustness of the method should facilitate its use in clinical trials. Clin Cancer Res; 16(1); 212–25
A High-Throughput Pharmaceutical Screen Identifies Compounds with Specific Toxicity against BRCA2-Deficient Tumors
Authors: Evers Bastiaan , Schut Eva , van der Burg Eline , Braumuller Tanya M. , Egan David A. , Holstege Henne , Edser Pauline , Adams David J. , Wade-Martins Richard , Bouwman Peter , Jonkers Jos 
Published: December 2009

AbstractPurpose: Hereditary breast cancer is partly explained by germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. Although patients carry heterozygous mutations, their tumors have typically lost the remaining wild-type allele. Selectively targeting BRCA deficiency may therefore constitute an important therapeutic approach. Clinical trials applying this principle are underway, but it is unknown whether the compounds tested are optimal. It is therefore important to identify alternative compounds that specifically target BRCA deficiency and to test new combination therapies to establish optimal treatment strategies.Experimental Design: We did a high-throughput pharmaceutical screen on BRCA2-deficient mouse mammary tumor cells and isogenic controls with restored BRCA2 function. Subsequently, we validated positive hits in vitro and in vivo using mice carrying BRCA2-deficient mammary tumors.Results: Three alkylators—chlorambucil, melphalan, and nimustine—displayed strong and specific toxicity against BRCA2-deficient cells. In vivo, these showed heterogeneous but generally strong BRCA2-deficient antitumor activity, with melphalan and nimustine doing better than cisplatin and the poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase inhibitor olaparib (AZD2281) in this small study. In vitro drug combination experiments showed synergistic interactions between the alkylators and olaparib. Tumor intervention studies combining nimustine and olaparib resulted in recurrence-free survival exceeding 330 days in 3 of 5 animals tested.Conclusions: We generated and validated a platform for identification of compounds with specific activity against BRCA2-deficient cells that translates well to the preclinical setting. Our data call for the re-evaluation of alkylators, especially melphalan and nimustine, alone or in combination with the poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase inhibitors, for the treatment of breast cancers with a defective BRCA pathway. Clin Cancer Res; 16(1); 99–108
Multiple extrathymic precursors contribute to T-cell development with different kinetics
Authors: Saran Namita , Łyszkiewicz Marcin , Pommerencke Jens , Witzlau Katrin , Vakilzadeh Ramin , Ballmaier Matthias , von Boehmer Harald , Krueger Andreas 
Published: December 2009

Abstract
T-cell development in the thymus depends on continuous supply of T-cell progenitors from bone marrow (BM). Several extrathymic candidate progenitors have been described that range from multipotent cells to lymphoid cell committed progenitors and even largely T-lineage committed precursors. However, the nature of precursors seeding the thymus under physiologic conditions has remained largely elusive and it is not known whether there is only one physiologic T-cell precursor population or many. Here, we used a competitive in vivo assay based on depletion rather than enrichment of classes of BM-derived precursor populations, thereby only minimally altering physiologic precursor ratios to assess the contribution of various extrathymic precursors to T-lineage differentiation. We found that under these conditions multiple precursors, belonging to both multipotent progenitor (MPP) and common lymphoid progenitor (CLP) subsets have robust T-lineage potential. However, differentiation kinetics of different precursors varied considerably, which might ensure continuous thymic output despite gated importation of extrathymic precursors. In conclusion, our data suggest that the thymus functions to impose T-cell fate on any precursor capable of filling the limited number of progenitor niches.
Hypercholesterolemia promotes bone marrow cell mobilization by perturbing the SDF-1:CXCR4 axis
Authors: Gomes Ana L. , Carvalho Tânia , Serpa Jacinta , Torre Cheila , Dias Sérgio 
Published: December 2009

AbstractHypercholesterolemia is associated with elevated peripheral blood leukocytes and increased platelet levels, generally attributed to cholesterol-induced proinflammatory cytokines. Bone marrow (BM) cell mobilization and platelet production is achieved by disrupting the SDF-1:CXCR4 axis, namely with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and/or CXCR4 antagonists. Here we show that high cholesterol disrupts the BM SDF-1:CXCR4 axis; promotes the mobilization of B cells, neutrophils, and progenitor cells (HPCs); and creates thrombocytosis. Hypercholesterolemia was achieved after a 30-day high-cholesterol feeding trial, resulting in elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and inversion of the LDL to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. Hypercholesterolemic mice displayed lymphocytosis, increased neutrophils, HPCs, and thrombocytosis with a lineage-specific decrease in the BM. Histologic analysis revealed that megakaryocyte numbers remained unaltered but, in high-cholesterol mice, they formed large clusters in contact with BM vessels. In vitro, LDL induced stromal cell–derived factor-1 (SDF-1) production, suggesting that megakaryocyte delocalization resulted from an altered SDF-1 gradient. LDL also stimulated B cells and HPC migration toward SDF-1, which was blocked by scavenger receptor class B type I (cholesterol receptor) inhibition. Accordingly, hypercholesterolemic mice had increased peripheral blood SDF-1 levels, increased platelets, CXCR4-positive B lymphocytes, neutrophils, and HPCs. High cholesterol interferes with the BM SDF-1:CXCR4 axis, resulting in lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, and HPC mobilization.
Genetic diversity of Ophiocordyceps sinensis, a medicinal fungus endemic to the Tibetan Plateau: Implications for its evolution and conservation
Authors: Zhang Yongjie , Xu Lingling , Zhang Shu , Liu Xingzhong , An Zhiqiang , Wang Mu , Guo Yinglan 
Published: December 2009

Abstract

Background

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis), endemic to alpine regions on the Tibetan plateau, is one of the most valuable medicinal fungi in the world. Huge commercial demand has led to excessive harvest and a dramatic decline in its numbers. The diversity of terrains and climates on the Tibetan Plateau and the broad insect host range (more than 50 species in the family Hepialidae) may have resulted in substantial intraspecific genetic diversity for this fungus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the population distribution of O. sinensis from geographically diverse regions of the Tibetan Plateau based on nrDNA ITS and MAT1-2-1 gene sequences. Understanding of the genetic diversity and genesis of O. sinensis will provide important information for the evolution and conservation of this fungus.

Results
Significant sequence variations in the ITS and MAT1-2-1 genes (27 and 23 informative sites, eight and seven haplotypes, respectively) were observed. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS sequences, MAT1-2-1 sequences, or their combined data set, clustered isolates from northern regions in one clade (clade I), whereas isolates from southern regions were dispersed in all four clades (clade I-IV). Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analyses of 2639 ITS clones from seven samples revealed 91 different SSCP patterns that were subsequently sequenced. ITS heterogeneity was found in XZ-LZ07-H1 (Nyingchi population), and 17 informative sites and five haplotypes were detected from 15 clones. The five haplotypes clustered into three clades (clade I, II, and IV).

Conclusions
Significant genetic divergence in O. sinensis was observed and the genetic diversification was greater among southern isolates than that among northern isolates. The polymorphism of nrDNA ITS sequences suggested that O. sinensis spread from a center of origin (the Nyingchi District) to southern regions and subsequently to northern areas. These results suggest that southern populations are important reservoirs of genetic diversity and should be taken into account in conservation programs.
A simple method for estimating genetic diversity in large populations from finite sample sizes
Authors: Bashalkhanov Stanislav , Pandey Madhav , Rajora Om P 
Published: December 2009

AbstractBackgroundSample size is one of the critical factors affecting the accuracy of the estimation of population genetic diversity parameters. Small sample sizes often lead to significant errors in determining the allelic richness, which is one of the most important and commonly used estimators of genetic diversity in populations. Correct estimation of allelic richness in natural populations is challenging since they often do not conform to model assumptions. Here, we introduce a simple and robust approach to estimate the genetic diversity in large natural populations based on the empirical data for finite sample sizes.ResultsWe developed a non-linear regression model to infer genetic diversity estimates in large natural populations from finite sample sizes. The allelic richness values predicted by our model were in good agreement with those observed in the simulated data sets and the true allelic richness observed in the source populations. The model has been validated using simulated population genetic data sets with different evolutionary scenarios implied in the simulated populations, as well as large microsatellite and allozyme experimental data sets for four conifer species with contrasting patterns of inherent genetic diversity and mating systems. Our model was a better predictor for allelic richness in natural populations than the widely-used Ewens sampling formula, coalescent approach, and rarefaction algorithm.ConclusionsOur regression model was capable of accurately estimating allelic richness in natural populations regardless of the species and marker system. This regression modeling approach is free from assumptions and can be widely used for population genetic and conservation applications.
Risk of urinary bladder cancer: a case-control analysis of industry and occupation
Authors: Cassidy Adrian , Wang Wei , Wu Xifeng , Lin Jie 
Published: December 2009

Abstract

Background
Uncertainty remains about urinary bladder cancer (UBC) risk for many occupations. Here, we investigate the association between occupation, industry and UBC.

Methods
Lifetime occupational history was collected by in-person interview for 604 newly diagnosed UBC patients and 604 cancer-free controls. Each job title was assigned a two-digit industry code and a three-digit occupation code. Odds ratios (ORs) for UBC associated with ever being employed in an industry or occupation were calculated by unconditional logistic regression adjusting for age, gender and smoking status. We also examined UBC risk by duration of employment (>0 to <10, ≥10 years) in industry or occupation.

Results
Significantly increased risk of UBC was observed among waiters and bartenders (OR 2.87; 95% CI 1.05 to 7.72) and occupations related to medicine and health (OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.21 to 3.92), agricultural production, livestock and animal specialties (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.03 to 3.49), electrical assembly, installation and repair (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.07 to 2.65), communications (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.00 to 3.01), and health services (OR 1.58; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.44). For these occupations we also observed a significant excess risk of UBC for long-term work (i.e. ≥10 years), with the exception of waiters and bartenders. Employment for 10 years or more was associated with increased risk of UBC in general farmers (OR 9.58; 95% CI 2.18 to 42.05), agricultural production of crops (OR 3.36; 95% CI 1.10 to 10.27), occupations related to bench working (OR 4.76; 95% CI 1.74 to 13.01), agricultural, fishery, forestry & related (OR 4.58; 95% CI 1.97 to 10.65), transportation equipment (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.03 to 6.97), and structural work (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.16 to 2.95).

Conclusions
This study provides evidence of increased risk of UBC for occupations that were previously reported as at-risk. Workers in several occupation and industry groups have a significantly higher risk of UBC, particularly when duration of employment is 10 years or more.