bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fellows’ Forum in Dialysis :edited by Mark A. Perazella: Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Rho Mira , Bia Frank , Brewster Ursula C. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWhile nontuberculous mycobacterial peritonitis is uncommon among peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, these infections have serious consequences. They present a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Diagnosis can be delayed due to the slow growth rate of some mycobacterial species. These organisms can also be overlooked when adequate culture media are not used in the microbiological evaluation process. The choice of antimicrobial therapy depends upon isolation and speciation of the infecting Mycobacterium species, and prompt catheter removal is essential. Because serious intra‐abdominal complications may follow infection, identifying patient risk factors for nontuberculous mycobacterial peritonitis and initiating prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential. We report three cases of peritonitis associated with Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium gordonae, each with a unique presentation, and discuss the appropriate diagnosis and treatment strategies for the management of PD‐associated mycobacterial infections.
Antibiotic and Infection Tracking in Minnesota Long‐Term Care Facilities
Authors: O'Fallon Erin , Harper Jane , Shaw Shelly , Lynfield Ruth 
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVES: To describe current systems used to track infections, antibiotic use, and antibiotic‐resistant infections in Minnesota long‐term care facilities (LTCFs).DESIGN: Self‐administered multiple‐choice survey assessing the methods, frequency, content, and dissemination of information used to track infections and antibiotic use.SETTING: Licensed Minnesota LTCFs providing skilled nursing care to geriatric residents as of June 2005.PARTICIPANTS: Surveys addressed to the director of nursing at 393 eligible LTCFs.MEASUREMENTS: Responses to survey questions, assessed by percentage of all responders. Of the 345 surveys returned, the majority had a system to track infections (94.1%), antibiotics prescribed (80.6%), and antibioticresistant infections (86.2%). Most facilities used only a nonelectronic format to track antibiotic use (73.4%) and antibiotic‐resistant infections (72.4%). Respondents collected information on antibiotic susceptibility results from cultures of blood (49.0%), urine (53.0%), sputum (50.0%), or wounds (50.0%). One third of attending clinicians were routinely informed of trends in facility antibiotic use. In 42% of facilities, less than 5 hours per month of paid time for an infection control practitioner was provided. Two‐thirds of responders (64.2%) described their systems as not or somewhat effective at optimizing appropriate antibiotic use in their facilities.CONCLUSION: Most facilities in Minnesota have a system in place to track infections, antibiotic use, and antibiotic resistance. These systems may not collect or disseminate information effectively enough to identify or address the development of antibiotic resistance. Paid infection control practitioner time is limited.
Effect of an Educational Intervention on Optimizing Antibiotic Prescribing in Long‐Term Care Facilities
Authors: Monette Johanne , Miller Mark A. , Monette Michèle , Laurier Claudine , Boivin Jean‐François , Sourial Nadia , Le Cruguel Jean‐Pierre , Vandal Alain , Cotton‐Montpetit Marie 
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of an educational intervention aimed at optimizing antibiotic prescribing in long‐term care (LTC) facilities.DESIGN: Cluster randomized, controlled trial.SETTING: Eight public LTC facilities in the Montreal area.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty‐six physicians.INTERVENTION: The educational intervention consisted of mailing an antibiotic guide to physicians along with their antibiotic prescribing profile covering the previous 3 months. Targeted infections were urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues, and septicemia of unknown origin. In the prescribing profile, each antibiotic was classified as adherent or nonadherent to the guide. Physicians in the experimental group received the intervention twice, 4 months apart, whereas physicians in the control group provided usual care.MEASUREMENTS: Data on antibiotic prescriptions were collected over four 3‐month periods: preintervention, postintervention I, postintervention II, and follow‐up. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to compare the proportion of nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions of the experimental and control groups.RESULTS: By the end of the study, nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 20.5% in the experimental group, compared with 5.1% in the control group. Based on the GEE model, during postintervention II, physicians in the experimental group were 64% less likely to prescribe nonadherent antibiotics than those in the control group (odds ratio=0.36, 95% confidence interval=0.18–0.73).CONCLUSION: An educational intervention combining an antibiotic guide and a prescribing profile was effective in decreasing nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions. Repetition of the intervention at regular intervals may be necessary to maintain its effectiveness.
ESTIMATING THE COST OF CAPITAL, A DIFFERENT APPROACH
Authors: BIERMAN HAROLD , ALDERFER CLAYTON P. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTIf a firm is owned by one person, that person can directly indicate to management the cost of his capital. The determination of the stockholder's cost of capital of a publicly owned firm is more complex. Econometric studies using past earnings, dividends, and capital structure have been performed by Miller and Modigliani, Gordon and others to estimate the cost of equity capital. But the cost of capital is a function of investor expectations and only indirectly related to past operating results.The objective of the study was to estimate the cost of capital using information obtained directly from investors. Personal interviewing of the investors of specific firms would be more meaningful to the management of that firm, but this technique was not feasible; thus a mail questionnaire sent to a select group of investors was used. Conclusions are reached relative to the magnitude of the cost of equity capital of four selected firms as of May‐June of 1968, and several surprising and contrasting insights concerning dividend policy, that could have financial policy implications, are obtained. The desirability of the financial manager obtaining more information from investors is stressed.
PATH‐GOAL MODELS AS A BASIS FOR THE DESIGN OF ORGANIZATION REWARD SYSTEMS
Authors: GALBRAITH JAY R. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTAll organizations are faced with choices of reward system design. In order to make intelligent choices of compensation systems, promotions, supervisory styles and job content a model of human behavior is needed. The model must be at a level of abstraction which will generalize to the entire work force. This paper presents such a model, indicates its relation to reward system choices, and indicates a research strategy to test the hypotheses.
A NOTE ON A SIMULATED STOCK MARKET
Authors: SHUBIK MARTIN 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis article describes the design of a stock market exercise to be run with a business game (or a simulated business game). It reports on an exercise in which around 100 traders participated in a market, trading four stocks. The results obtained are reported: however, the work was primarily a feasibility study to see if very large group behavior could be studied in a controlled experiment. The experience gleaned from the experiment indicates that this is a fruitful approach.
COMPACT: THE USE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE TO IMPROVE ACCOUNTING PEDAGOGY
Authors: NEVEU RAYMOND P. , HALE JACK A. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTDesirable improvements in college‐level accounting pedagogy are now possible through the use of computer science technology that provides efficient student input using optical scanners or mark‐sense cards and permits information retrieval using direct access storage devices. Optimum application of this technology requires that students receive error analyses capable of increasing their level of retained knowledge and that instructors receive output which identifies student strengths as well as emerging weaknesses. Instructor output should also provide data for statistical evaluation of class sections.We have developed the COMPACT system in attempting to meet these needs. Our article deleneates the minimum computer configuration as well as the one currently in use. We discuss the contents of student and instructor feedback. Through examples we show the role of the input error analysis routines and demonstrate the use and current limitations of these routines in their ability to provide algorithmic error analysis. We then illustrate a heuristic set which, under certain circumstances, is required to analyze multi‐entry transactions occuring as subsets of student problem solution input. We conclude by indicating the probable extentions of our system both in terms of subject matter and computer hardware.
COST OF CAPITAL AS A FUNCTION OF FINANCIAL LEVERAGE*
Authors: MELNYK Z. LEW 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis study has three objectives. First, it develops new evidence on the sensitivity of cost of capital in relation to financial leverage. Second, the findings are interpreted in the light of the existing financial theory. The concept of shifting of cost of capital curves is also introduced and explored both in theory and in relation to empirical testing. Third, the conclusions are placed within the framework of financial management at the business firm level.To accomplish these objectives a new, heretofore untried, approach to testing the cost of funds to a firm has been developed. In contrast to the almost universally accepted cross‐section analysis, this study develops cost of capital functions for each company separately. Subsequently these functions are aggregated, compared, and also analyzed in a cross‐section fashion. This approach, in the opinion of the present author, is supported by the fact that (1) both the Net Operating Income and Net Income theories of cost of capital are stated in terms of a firm, not industry or other grouping of firms, and (2) from the practical point of view the question of optimality of capital structure is relevant, and indeed operationally meaningful, only at the firm level.
THE APPLICABILITY OF BAYESIAN STATISTICS IN AUDITING
Authors: KNOBLETT JAMES A. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe basic purpose of this study was the investigation of the usefulness of Bayesian statistical techniques to problems of estimation in the field of auditing. By using subjective probabilities the auditor can explicitly bring prior knowledge to bear on his problem by incorporating his feelings in the sampling process and thus obtain an efficient method by which refined estimates can be obtained. The results of the study strongly support the premise that the auditor can obtain superior results from the Bayesian model in estimating unknown quantities as opposed to those obtained through either the non‐statistical approach or the classical statistical approach.
THE ESTIMATION OF LINEAR PRODUCTION FUNCTIONS HAVING MULTICOLLINEAR INPUTS
Authors: WALKER DAVID A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn this paper linear production functions with highly correlated independent variables are estimated. Because many production processes require the use of inputs in fixed proportions, multicolinearity is usually a serious problem. This is usually the case when one attempts to estimate a linear or Cobb‐Douglass (in log linear form) production function.Estimates of the marginal products of a linear production function are obtained by employing the first order conditions of the output maximizing solution given a cost constraint. Parameter estimates are determined for the case where the input costs are constants. The general case, where the input prices are functions of utilization levels, is delineated.
SELF ADAPTIVE FORECASTING RECONSIDERED
Authors: RAINE JESSE E. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTRecent work in demand forecasting has been done on a variation of exponential smoothing, which has been called a response surface. This response surface is analyzed, and an attempt is made to specify the nature of the sampling distributions involved. Then the response surface is compared to the basic single exponential smoothing forecast using actual demand data to see if it is a significantly better forecast.
SOLUTION OF THE SHORTEST ROUTE PROBLEM USING THE ASSIGNMENT TECHNIQUE
Authors: HESSE RICK 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTA solution to the shortest route problem of going from city i to city j with p necessary intermediate stops (0 p n ‐ 2) is given using the assignment algorithm, with a simple modification of the initial matrix. A branch and bound algorithm is necessary in all but the simplest case (p = 0).
THE RATIONALE FOR INCENTIVE CONTRACTING*
Authors: BRADLEY CHARLES E. , McCUISTON CLAYTON 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe incentive‐type fee function (which has supplanted the Cost‐Plus‐Fixed‐Fee arrangements of a decade ago) provides an excellent medium for achieving “fee flexibility” or, more exactly, for increasing the fee outcome on government contracts. The originators of incentive contracting stumbled unwittingly on a method for negotiating acceptable fee arrangements under conditions of uncertainty, and the primary purpose of this paper is to establish apodictically that incentive contracts (whether single or multiple) can and do provide the contractor with a method for securing a fee arrangement preferable to that obtainable through a CPFF or a FP (Fixed‐Price) contract. Furthermore, this characteristic of incentive contracts can be demonstrated through the use of elementary decision theory.The incentive fee structure provides the contractor with a long‐needed procedure for optimizing the expected utility of the fee outcome, and an appreciation of this property should be of value to both contractors and procurement officials with the authority for designing new contract fee arrangements. The paper does not investigate procedures for the optimal negotiation of contracts; rather, it identifies a feature of the incentive contract which appears to be the primary basis for its use and popularity.Our thesis is applicable to both single and multiple incentive contracts. For reasons of simplicity, however, the analysis has been largely confined to the former type of fee arrangement.
INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR A SMALL GROWTH COMPANY*
Authors: FOGLER H. RUSSELL 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to illustrate the impact of the simultaneous investment‐financing decisions required by a small growth company when accepting relatively large investment projects. By such illustration, the capital budgeting rationale for using “rules of thumb” will be clarified, and correspondingly, the implicit assumptions for approximating a company's “cost of capital” will be exposed. To provide quantitative estimates of the various impacts of different capital budgeting strategies, a relatively simple simulation model was constructed. Once the implicit assumptions are exposed, the importance of a strategy combining the rules of thumb and cost of capital criteria is evident. It is believed that this combined strategy provides a practical bridge between the “art” and science of finance.
TIME BETWEEN PURCHASES AND CONSUMER BRAND CHOICE
Authors: RAO TANNIRU R. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTPast research has presented conflicting evidence regarding the effect of time between purchases on consumer brand choice. This study investigates the time effect on brand purchase probabilities after homogenizing the data with respect to store switching, size of purchase, and frequency of the product purchase. Two exponential models have been proposed and their over‐all effectiveness compared with a naive model. The contribution of the study is in building a realistic model of consumer purchase choice by incorporating the elements of the marketing environment.
STOCK MARKET RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: A CASE FOR THE SYSTEMS APPROACH
Authors: CHOTTINER SHERMAN 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTFew stock market “truths” are known despite extensive research by academicians, investment advisors, and investors. This state is hypothesized to be a result of an emphasis on external or “black box” methods of inquiry. The use of internal methods or systems analysis is suggested as the way to bring about new insights into the stock market.In this article, the stock market is described as a system. Methods to study this system, ranging on a continuum with external and internal poles, are presented. The danger of heavy reliance on external methodologies and the need for a more balanced methodology is illustrated with reference to the “random‐walk hypothesis.” Finally, the advantages of internal methodologies are detailed.
IDENTIFICATION: IT'S PERFORMANCE THAT COUNTS
Authors: PATTON R. A. , SMITH V. KERRY 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses two different forms of identifying restrictions and compares them in a Monte Carlo framework. A similar analysis is performed to illuminate how the identification procedures affect problems of mis‐specification. It is found that, using ordinary least squares as the estimating technique, the two types of identification perform much differently and thus they should not be confused. Similar results hold in the mis‐specification case.
SOME RESEARCH AND TEACHING WITH AN ON‐LINE OLIGOPOLY GAME USING AN ARTIFICIAL PLAYER*
Authors: Wolf Gerrit 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTTeaching and research can be integrated using an artificial player. A series of studies are reported that note the assets and liabilities of using an on‐line oligopoly game with an artificial player. By appropriately combining teaching and gaming research costs may be lowered, the learning experience increased, and the validity of the research increased.
Functional and Behavioral Application
Authors: Lewellen Wilbur G. , Long Michael S. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTSimulation techniques have been recommended in the recent literature as vehicles for improving the analysis of the corporate capital budgeting decision. Such techniques are alleged to provide more helpful measures of both return and risk than do single‐point discounted cash flow estimates of project worth. This contention is challenged here. The conclusion is reached that the information provided by simulation is, at best, no better than is generated by the traditional single‐point present value approach and, in one very important respect, is markedly inferior.
Tutorial and Survey
Authors: Thompson Howard E. , Krajewski LeRoy J. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTIn a recent article Baruch Lev [1] analyzed 29 peak‐demand forecasts (consisting of 1917 monthly forecasts) made by Commonwealth Edison Company between 1955 and 1966. The conclusions made by Lev from analysis of theseactualforecasts bear a close resemblance to the kinds of conclusions that we derived from an application of time series analysis to historical data to produce forecasts.It is the purpose of this paper to show how the conclusions which Lev made about forecast errors would also be true of the errors resulting from forecasts derived solely from analysis of historical data. Although in no way definitive, such a demonstration of consistency between actual forecasts made by businessmen and statistical forecasts made only from historical data yields further evidence of the practical applicability of time series analysis to forecasting problems in real life.In particular Lev concluded that the major factor affecting the distribution of forecast errors was the month of the forecast and that the “…interval between prediction and realization has only a slight effect on the prediciton errors.” Mr. Lev's analysis of these observations showed that the expected value of forecast errors was about one quarter of one percent and independent of the time interval of the forecast. In addition he pointed out that the variance of the log forecast errors increased slightly with the prediciton interval but was affected more directly by the month which was forecasted.
CYCLICAL BEHAVIOR OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE HELP WANTED INDEX: A CROSS SPECTRAL ANALYSIS
Authors: Jonish James E. , Worthley Reginald G. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe unemployment rate and the help‐wanted index are two frequently used indicators of the state of the labor market. Traditional regression techniques used in the analysis of the relationship between these two indicators and their cyclical behavior with business fluctuations have yielded varying results. Spectral analysis is used in this article to examine the cyclical behavior of the labor market indicators with respect to each other and with respect to a measure of aggregate economic activity in the United States. Very strong relationships are found, lending support to the rationale of using such indicators as labor market proxies. This application of spectral analysis also provides an illustration of the potential fruitfulness of spectral analysis in examining the cyclical relationships between economic time series.
MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES IN LINEAR PROGRAMMING –AN EXAMPLE IN SCHEDULING POSTAL RESOURCES
Authors: Ritzman Larry P. , Krajewski Leroy J. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper describes a methodology to treat multiple objectives in a mathematical programming problem. A linear programming model is developed for the short‐term manpower scheduling problem in a post office so as to get a desirable balance between mail transit times and resource expenditures. The scheduling problem is of particular interest because of 1) the multiplicity of objectives, 2) the existence of several mail classes, each having different arrival patterns, routings, and dispatch times, and 3) the complexity of the different scheduling options available. The paper demonstrates how the model can be used experimentally to obtain model parameters which, in the judgment of management, achieve a desirable balance between objectives. Once the parameters are determined, the model prescribes how to vary the overtime usage, reassign workers to the various work stations, and adjust the priorities of the mail classes. The model has indirect use in studying the effects of changing work capacities, dispatch schedules, and mail arrival patterns.
IS BRAND LOYALTY A CRITERION FOR MARKET SEGMENTATION: DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS
Authors: Rao Tanniru R. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTIs it possible to use brand loyalty for market segmentation? The answer rests solely on whether the researcher can identify the group of loyal buyers among the product users. This study investigates the usefulness of external information obtained from a set of independent variables in order to discriminate between loyal and disloyal groups. The independent variables of the study measure a consumer's shopping patterns, general characteristics of the product usage, and the element of price in purchase decision.
A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE UTILIZATION EFFECTIVENESS OF A PERT PROGRAM
Authors: Green Thad B. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThis article is based on the belief that students should learn the computational aspects of decision science techniques outside the classroom, thus freeing the instructor from this task and enabling him to devote more class time to focusing on the theoretical and/or application‐oriented elements which will take students further in their learning experience. An experiment was designed to determine the learning value of one way of achieving this, namely the use of a Learning Center where students learned individually using a programmed instruction learning machine. The research involved both graduates and undergraduates learning the fundamentals of PERT—some with the learning machine approach while others were involved in more conventional pedagogies. Surprising success was discovered relative to both the approach and the quality of the PERT program used, with far‐reaching implications regarding futuristic approaches to decision science education.