bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protocol of the Caesarean Section as Performed in Daily Bovine Practice in Belgium
Authors: Kolkman I , De Vliegher S , Hoflack G , Van Aert M , Laureyns J , Lips D , De Kruif A , Opsomer G 
Published: June 2007

ContentsIn the early part of the 20th century, veterinarians began to perform Caesarean section (CS) in cows. At first, it was a final remedy to save the calf and/or the cow in more complicated obstetrical cases. As in Belgium, the Belgian Blue (BB) breed has become the predominant beef breed, CS are currently performed on a routine basis in daily practice. The overwhelming success of the breed is based on its hypermuscularity and exceptional carcass characteristics with high killing out (>70%). These and other characteristics made the breed popular and newborn animals valuable. Consequently, farmers do not want to take any risk of losing the calf during birth. This, together with the fact that bovine practitioners perform CS successfully on a routine basis, has made CS an elective operation. It is, however, important to remember that CS is still a major abdominal operation and that complications are not uncommon both during and after the operation. To end up with a good success rate, it is very important to follow a high‐quality and sterile surgical procedure. The current paper describes the standard protocol by which CS are performed by the veterinarians of the Ambulatory Clinic of the Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics, and Herd Health of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Ghent (Belgium). The aim of the article is to provide a successful protocol as regards CS. We especially focus on those factors which are known to be limiting for the success of the surgery and highlight the most recent recommendations to optimize the outcome of the operation.
Increased sickness absence in diabetic employees: what is the role of co‐morbid conditions?
Authors: Kivimäki M. , Vahtera J. , Pentti J. , Virtanen M. , Elovainio M. , Hemingway H. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAims  Diabetes is thought to be associated with increased risk of sickness absence in working populations. We examined the contribution of co‐morbidity to this association.Methods  Records of physician‐certified sickness absence episodes (> 3 days) over a 1‐year period were obtained from employers’ records after a survey of chronic diseases and risk factors in 638 diabetic and 32 510 non‐diabetic public sector employees in Finland (the Public Sector Study).Results  Diabetic employees had a 2.15‐fold (95% confidence interval 1.92–2.40) age‐ and sex‐adjusted excess risk of sickness absence compared with their colleagues with no chronic disease. In absolute terms, diabetes was related to 59 extra absence episodes per 100 person years. Of this excess risk, 55% was attributable to co‐occurring non‐cardiovascular diseases, such as depression, prolapsed intervertebral disc and bronchitis. The contribution of cardiovascular complications to the excess sickness absence was small (7%).Conclusions  In this occupational cohort, the excess risk of sickness absence in diabetic employees was largely accounted for by non‐cardiovascular co‐morbidity. Intervening multiple chronic conditions may be important in programmes to reduce sickness absence in diabetic employees.
Development and characterization of the first microsatellite markers in the mangrove species Pelliciera rhizophorae Triana & Planchon
Authors: CASTILLO‐CARDENAS MARÍA F. , TORO‐PEREA NELSON 
Published: June 2007

Abstract Pelliciera rhizophorae is a unique Neotropical mangrove species belonging to Pelliciera genus. We isolated eight microsatellite loci from this species. All loci were polymorphic and showed three to nine alleles per locus in Colombian Pacific and Caribbean populations. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.46 to 0.69. Two loci (PeRh‐14 and PeRh‐19) showed null alleles on the Caribbean coast, which suggest genetic differentiation between Pacific and Caribbean populations of P. rhizophorae. Development of these microsatellite loci constitutes a new molecular tool to carry out studies in the genome of the species and to evaluate its population dynamics.
A Warning Zone Method for the Multiperiod Cost Variance Investigation Problem
Authors: Finley David R. , Liao Woody M. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper develops a warning zone approach to make variance investigation decisions for a multiperiod process. The assumed cost generation process varies between an in‐control and out‐of‐control state. These states cannot be directly observed, but must be inferred from the reported cost variances. Using the warning zone method of inference, the manager investigates the process whenever an upper threshold is exceeded or a lower threshold is exceeded for two consecutive periods. A four‐state Markov chain models the resulting decision process. Steady state probabilities are derived for this chain and are used to obtain explicit formulas for the effectiveness and efficiency of the decision process. These formulas permit computation of the cost savings attainable by the warning zone method. Compared to other decision rules, the warning zone method is much simpler than the theoretically optimal Bayesian revision method, but uses more information than the Markovian control limit method. Numerical comparison of results shows that the warning zone method usually captures most of the available cost savings, even in cases where the Markovian control limit method does not perform well.
Combining Forecasts: Multiple Regression versus a Bayesian Approach*
Authors: Walz Daniel T. , Walz Diane B. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTSimple linear combinations of forecasts have consistently been found to be more accurate than individual forecasts. Several recent studies have found that combination forecasts derived by constrained or unconstrained multiple regression are more accurate than a simple average of individual forecasts. This study uses macroeconomic data to compare the accuracy of combination forecasts derived by a Bayesian methodology with the accuracy of composite forecasts derived by multiple regression. Using the forecasts of four macroeconomic variables from five well‐known econometric models, the study finds that the Bayesian combination procedure produces more accurate composite forecasts than does the regression combination procedure, based on a version of Theil's U2 statistic.
Cost and Shortage Trade‐Offs in Aggregate Production Planning*
Authors: Singhal Kalyan , Adlakha Veena 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTIt is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to measure shortage costs. To bypass this difficulty in aggregate production planning, this paper develops an optimal policy function (piecewise linear or a curve) for trade‐offs between shortages and the sum of production and inventory costs. The optimal management decision is based on this function. It should be of major interest in production planning since similar functions for inventory management have been successfully applied in practice.
Network Models for Fleet Management*
Authors: Vemuganti R. R. , Oblak M. , Aggarwal A. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper presents network models to determine the optimal replacement policy for a fleet of vehicles over a finite planning horizon. First, a minimum cost‐flow model is developed to determine the optimal replacement schedule for a fleet of fixed size consisting of a single type of vehicle of various ages. The model is then extended to allow for restrictions on capital expenditures that limit the purchase of new vehicles in any time period and to allow for fluctuations in the fleet size due to planned expansion or retrenchment. Finally, a multi‐commodity network model is developed for a fleet consisting of multiple vehicle types and ages.
The Choice of Depreciation Method Under Uncertainty*
Authors: Berg Menachem , Moore Giora 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis study presents a framework for choosing between depreciation methods when future cash flows from operations are not assumed known with certainty but only in probabilistic terms. Specifically, the accelerated depreciation method and the straight‐line depreciation method are compared and mathematical conditions are derived for the depreciation method that should be adopted in different circumstances and under different tax systems. It is shown that, contrary to conventional wisdom, the straight‐line depreciation method is the preferred method for lowering the company's present value of tax liability in various realistic situations.
On the Joint Lot‐Sizing Problem with Zero Setup Costs
Authors: Erenguc S. Selcuk , Mercan H. Murat 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTIn a recent paper, Pinto and Mabert [5] presented a lot‐sizing rule and an improvement procedure for the joint lot‐sizing problem with zero setup costs. We show that this procedure often yields infeasible schedules. We also present and discuss two interesting properties of the joint lot‐sizing problem with zero setup costs. A numerical example to illustrate the second property is provided.
Linear and Nonlinear Valence Functions: A Behavioral Decision‐Making Assessment
Authors: Ravichandran Ramarathnam , Baker Douglas D. , Randall Donna M. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTIn Vroom's [45] original formulation of expectancy theory, the relationship between affect and perceived instrumentality was assumed to be linear. Others have suggested that such a relationship may be better modeled by a nonlinear, utility‐type function [30]. The current research contrasts the predictive ability of two linear and four nonlinear functions. Using four levels of McClelland's [26] needs for achievement, affiliation, and power as instrumentalities, 101 subjects provided more than 12,900 decisions on the valences of jobs in a behavioral decision‐making experiment. Nearly 40 percent of the subjects exhibited nonlinear valence functions. The results emphasize the need to specify the appropriate functional form of the valence component to enhance predictive accuracy and to prevent misspecification problems.
Goal Programming Approach for Regression Median*
Authors: Sueyoshi Toshiyuki , Chang Yih‐Long 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis study presents a new robust estimation method that can produce a regression median hyper‐plane for any data set. The robust method starts with dual variables obtained by least absolute value estimation. It then utilizes two specially designed goal programming models to obtain regression median estimators that are less sensitive to a small sample size and a skewed error distribution than least absolute value estimators. The superiority of new robust estimators over least absolute value estimators is confirmed by two illustrative data sets and a Monte Carlo simulation study.
Shopping Model of the Time‐Sensitive Consumer
Authors: Umesh U. N. , Pettit Kathy L. , Bozman Carl S. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe shopping behavior of time‐sensitive consumers has been modeled as an economic model of choice. Consumers are said to balance the costs of time spent commuting to the store and in the store with storage costs and other nontime costs of shopping. In so doing, these consumers tend to minimize their overall costs. Propositions are developed and tested using this economic model of shopping. The model is extended beyond time sensitivity to include deal proneness; further propositions are developed and tested using the extended model. The empirical results support the derived models.
A Clustering Algorithm for Computer‐Assisted Process Organization
Authors: Aronson Jay E. , Klein Gary 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTAmathematical programming clustering model that forms groups based on total group membership interactions is extended to include precedence relationships, group size limits, and group time limits. The extended clustering model is most appropriate for structured design of information systems as described by the computer‐assisted process organization (CAPO), which requires certain ordering and may have limits on development and production capacity. An efficient algorithm for optimizing the CAPO criteria along with computational results is presented. The results show that the method is viable for the CAPO problems reported in the literature.
An Empirical Test of Staw and Ross's Prescriptions for the Management of Escalation of Commitment Behavior in Organizations*
Authors: Barton Sidney L. , Duchon Dennis , Dunegan Kenneth J. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis study tests two major prescriptions of Staw and Ross about the management of escalation behavior in organizations. Since these prescriptions are primarily based on research using students in controlled settings, the efficacy of the prescriptions was tested in the context of a real, functioning organization. The results provide conditional support for separating initial decision responsibility from subsequent responsibility as a means of reducing escalation behavior. However, the findings did not support a reduction of project failure risk as a means of minimizing escalation of commitment to a failing course of action.
Assigning Students to Groups for Class Projects: An Exploratory Test of Two Methods
Authors: Muller Thomas E. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTBeheshtian‐Ardekani and Mahmood [1] recently offered a means of assigning students to groups for class projects to achieve a balanced distribution of student skills within groups. They assumed‐ but did not show‐that the instructor would give weaker students a better chance to learn from stronger group members, that there would be greater synergistic learning effects, and that students would be happier with the project experience. This experiment tests the balanced‐group method of assigning students using the people‐sequential heuristic by comparing its effectiveness against the results achieved by random assignment to groups. The findings show that balanced groups have a modest advantage over groups formed randomly. Students in balanced groups felt slightly more satisfied with and challenged by the group and shared the work load more evenly. Within randomly assigned groups, student perceptions of the quality of the group‐project learning experience were less homogeneous.
Dermatopathological indicators of poor melanoma prognosis are significantly inversely correlated with the expression of NM23 protein in primary cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Ferrari Donata , Lombardi Mara , Ricci Roberto , Michiara Maria , Santini Marcello , De Panfilis Giuseppe 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Some dermatopathological parameters are recognized as dominant indicators of high metastatic potential in melanoma, especially Breslow thickness, ulceration, Clark’s level of invasion and mitotic rate. Because NM23 protein is the product of a melanoma metastasis suppressor gene, the aim of this study was to compare such dermatopathological indicators of melanoma prognosis with NM23 protein expression in primary cutaneous melanoma.Methods:  The immunohistochemical NM23 expression was semiquantitatively assessed in 30 primary cutaneous melanomas. Ten dermatopathological parameters were evaluated and compared with NM23 expression.Results:  A significant inverse correlation was found for NM23 expression in comparison with Breslow thickness (p < 0.01), ulceration (p < 0.05), Clark’s level (p < 0.01), mitotic rate (p < 0.05), and vertical growth phase (p < 0.05). By contrast, no significant correlation was found for NM23 expression in comparison with cell morphology, presence of adjacent nevus, pigmentation, tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes, and regression was impossible to evaluate.Conclusions:  The expression of NM23 protein in primary cutaneous melanoma is significantly inversely correlated with dermatopathological parameters currently recognized as powerful indicators of melanoma prognosis. NM23 may be therefore considered in the dermatopathological evaluation of primary cutaneous melanoma.
Investigation of the hair follicle inner root sheath in scarring and non‐scarring alopecia
Authors: Horenstein Marcelo G , Simon Jessica 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Premature desquamation of the inner root sheath (IRS) is described as a defining histologic feature of follicular degeneration syndrome/central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA). However, IRS abnormalities have been noted in other types of alopecia.Design:  We evaluated the IRS in terminal hair follicles with transverse sections stained with hematoxylin‐eosin and Ziehl‐Neelsen stains in 22 non‐scarring (7 areata and 15 androgenetic) and 21 scarring (13 CCCA, 2 lichen planopilaris, 2 lupus erythematosus, 1 folliculitis decalvans and 3 end stage) alopecia cases. In addition, we evaluated 15 normal controls with longitudinal sections to establish the level of IRS desquamation.Results:  The IRS was present in 99.5 ± 0.01% (mean ± standard error) of normal follicles at the level of the arrector pili muscle/sebaceous gland/sweat gland coil (L2) and variably present at higher levels. The IRS was present at L2 in 97.9 ± 1.5% of alopecia areata, 87.4 ± 5.3% of androgenetic alopecia, 59.3 ± 7.0% of CCCA and 49.4 ± 11.3% of other scarring alopecia follicles.Conclusions:  Premature desquamation of the IRS was identified in CCCA; however, it was also noted in other scarring alopecia cases. IRS premature desquamation is a non‐specific histologic feature in scarring alopecia and cannot be used alone as a defining feature of CCCA.
Monoclonal antibody Ber‐EP4 reliably discriminates between microcystic adnexal carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Krahl Dieter , Sellheyer Klaus 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Sclerosing cutaneous neoplasms often represent a diagnostic challenge. The monoclonal antibody Ber‐EP4 recognizes two glycopolypeptides found in most human epithelial cells. It is diagnostically highly reliable in the differentiation between basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, we report its application in the differential diagnosis of microcystic adnexal carcinoma, desmoplastic trichoepithelioma and basal cell carcinoma.Methods:  Biopsy samples from 28 sclerosing and infiltrating basal cell carcinomas, 13 microcystic adnexal carcinomas and 16 desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas were examined after immunohistochemical staining with Ber‐EP4.Results:  Ber‐EP4 did not label any of the microcystic adnexal carcinomas, whereas all 28 basal cell carcinomas were Ber‐EP4 positive. Twenty‐seven of the 28 showed moderate or strong staining intensity, with the majority being strong. Only one basal cell carcinoma was weakly positive. Twelve of the 16 desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas were immunoreactive with Ber‐EP4 and the staining was more variable than those of basal cell carcinomas.Conclusions:  Ber‐EP4 reliably differentiates microcystic adnexal carcinoma from basal cell carcinoma to the same extent as it distinguishes the latter tumor from squamous cell carcinoma. While it stains the majority of desmoplastic trichoepitheliomas, these tumors still have to be considered in the differential diagnosis with microcystic adnexal carcinoma, when Ber‐EP4 is applied.
Desmoplastic tricholemmoma of the eyelid misdiagnosed as sebaceous carcinoma: a potential diagnostic pitfall
Authors: Cabral Erik S. , Cassarino David S. 
Published: June 2007

Background:  Sebaceous carcinoma (SC) most commonly presents on the eyelid and is frequently misdiagnosed both clinically and pathologically. Only very rare cases of desmoplastic tricholemmoma (DTL) of the eyelid have been reported.Methods:  We present a case of DTL of the eyelid initially misdiagnosed as an invasive SC.Results:  A 55‐year‐old man presented with a rapidly growing 5 mm erythematous lesion on his upper eyelid. Histologic examination showed a lobular, folliculocentric proliferation of palely eosinophilic to clear cells surrounded by peripheral basal cells with palisading. The central portion of the lesion appeared infiltrative with clear cells surrounded by a thickened basement embedded in a dense, collagenous stroma. However, the cells showed mostly uniform cytoplasmic clearing, lacking the multivacuolization or nuclear scalloping of sebocytes. In addition, a periodic acid Schiff stain was positive with diastase sensitivity, indicating cytoplasmic glycogen, not lipid. CD34 immunohistochemical staining was also positive, which has been reported in DTL but not in SC.Conclusions:  SC is often misdiagnosed as other entities, but misidentification of other neoplasms as SC is less common; however, this is an important diagnostic pitfall, as it may result in unnecessary and disfiguring surgical treatment and consequent medical‐legal liability. Therefore, DTL should enter the differential diagnosis of clear‐cell neoplasms on the eyelid.
Ironische Brüderschaft Thomas Manns Joseph der Ernährer und Laurence Sternes Tristram Shandy
Authors: Seidlin Oskar 
Published: June 2007

Es mag auf den ersten Blick nicht mehr als eine Marotte scheinen, zwei Autoren und Romanwerke,1 die durch Sprache, Zeit, geistige Weite, schöpferische Antriebe und Absichten weit voneinander geschieden sind, in nachbarliche Beziehung rücken zu wollen, – eine Marotte, im besten Falle amüsant exzentrisch, im schlimmsten verantwortungslos und willkürlich. Wo wäre das Bindeglied zwischen dem wildwuchernden und so oft unbekümmert obszönen Schnickschnack des englischen Landgeistlichen aus der Mitte des achtzehnten Jahrhunderts und der monumentalen Wiedererweckung der biblischen Geschichte durch den zeitgenössischen deutschen Dichter; zwischen den harmlosen Narreteien meines Onkels Toby und der Entschlüsselung eines ehrwürdigen Mythos, ja der Natur des Mythischen überhaupt; zwischen dem scholastischen Unsinn Vater Shandys und dem tiefsinnigen Grübeln des Urvaters Jaakob über Gott, den Menschen und ihr heiliges Bündnis; zwischen dem ländlich englischen Haus‐ und Familienbetrieb mit solch wichtigen Höhe‐punkten wie Frau Shandys Wochenbett, einer ungeölten Türangel, einem Paar Pumphosen und der überfeinerten sozial politischen Maschinerie des alten Ägypterreiches?1. Alle Stellennachweise beziehen sich auf die einbändige Modern Library‐Ausgabe von Laurence Sterne, Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy (New York, 1941), hier abgekürzt als TS, und auf Thomas Mann, Joseph der Ernährer (Stockholm, 1943), hier abgekürzt als JE.
Memory in Colette's Chéri
Authors: Stary Sonja G. 
Published: June 2007

Although Sidonie‐Gabrielle Colette based much of her fiction on her own personal memories, in her novel, Chéri, she portrays memory as a destructive force. The happiness which her characters, Léa Lonval and Chéri Peloux, discover in retrospect is all the more painful to them because their six‐year‐long liaison becomes overly embellished in their minds.In depicting the two protagonists of Chéri and its sequel, La Fin de Chéri, Colette transposes into them her own feelings. The writer, however, must be distinguished from the characters she creates in that, while Léa and Chéri are torn by the illusions which memory produces, Colette liberates herself from such a plight through writing. In Chéri, Colette denounces memory as a refuge from reality. Moreover, by means of her fiction, Colette rids herself of illusions she has had so as to see herself with more objectivity.