bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What Can Be Learned from Classical Inventory Models? A Cross-Industry Exploratory Investigation
Authors: Rumyantsev Sergey , Netessine Serguei 
Published: November 2007

Classical inventory models offer a variety of insights into the optimal way to manage inventories of individual products. However, top managers and industry analysts are often concerned with the aggregate macroscopic view of a firm's inventory rather than with the inventories of individual products. Given that classical inventory models often do not account for many practical considerations that a company's management faces (e.g., competition, industry dynamics, business cycles, the financial state of the company and of the economy, etc.) and that they are derived at the product level and not the firm level, can insights from these models be used to explain the inventory dynamics of entire companies? This exploratory study aims to address this issue using empirical data. We analyze absolute and relative inventories using a quarterly data panel that contains 722 public U.S. companies for the period 1992–2002. We have chosen companies that are not widely diversified and whose business in large part relies on inventory management to concentrate on empirically testing hypotheses derived from a variety of classical inventory models (economic order quantity (EOQ), [Q, r], newsvendor, periodic review, etc.). We find empirical evidence that firms operating with more uncertain demand, longer lead times, and higher gross margins have larger inventories. Furthermore, larger companies appear to benefit from economies of scale and therefore have relatively less inventory than smaller companies. We obtain mixed evidence on the relationship between inventory levels and inventory holding costs. We also analyze the breakdown of data into eight segments—oil and gas, electronics, wholesale, retail, machinery, hardware, food, and chemicals—and find that, with a few notable exceptions, our hypotheses are supported within the segments as well. Overall, our results demonstrate that many of the predictions from classical inventory models extend beyond individual products to the aggregate firm level; hence, these models can help with high-level strategic choices in addition to tactical decisions.
Consumerism in Health Care: beyond the supermarket model
Authors: Winkler Fedelma 
Published: November 2007

The emphasis on consumerism is very new to managers in the health service. This article asks how significant supermarket consumerism is and explores other models of consumerism in health care: community health councils, democratic accountability, user power, provider user partnerships.
The need to reduce the disparity of power between users and providers of the health service is seen as the key factor in attempts to develop meaningful consumerism. The author puts forward six mechanisms to do this and illustrates how these mechanisms can be developed with examples from one community health council.
Systematic reviews in social policy: to go forward, do we first need to look back?
Authors: Pearson Mark 
Published: November 2007

English
This article argues that the development of systematic review methods for social policy and practice in the UK has been inhibited in two ways. First, there has been insufficient engagement with the breadth of Donald Campbell’s thought on research methods and knowledge cumulation. To this end, the article outlines the contribution that a fuller understanding of Donald Campbell’s work could make to the development of such methods. Second, debates about the merits of systematic review methods have often shown only a partial understanding of other approaches. The article thus seeks to identify key areas of commonality and difference between approaches to systematic reviews with a view to stimulating methodological development through constructive debate.
Systematic maps to support the evidence base in social care
Authors: Bates Salina , Clapton Janet , Coren Esther 
Published: November 2007

English
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) aims to improve the experience of service users and practitioners by developing and promoting good practice in the social care sector by commissioning and disseminating knowledge-based practice guidance. This article focuses on SCIE’s development of the role of systematic mapping in social care in the UK. It describes the processes of mapping, with an introduction to the role of systematic mapping in delivering an evidence base for social care. Finally, it identifies some of the issues experienced and lessons learned from piloting systematic mapping in two separate social care topics at SCIE.
Fetal Down Syndrome Brains Exhibit Aberrant Levels of Neurotransmitters Critical for Normal Brain Development
Authors: Whittle Nigel , Sartori Simone B. , Dierssen Mara , Lubec Gert , Singewald Nicolas 
Published: November 2007

BACKGROUND. In the immature developing fetal brain, amino acids (such as γ-aminobutyric acid, and taurine) and monoamines (serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine) act as developmental signals or regulators. In subjects with Down syndrome, dysfunctional brain development is evident from birth as reduction in brain weight, as well as volume reductions in specific brain regions, and an altered number of neurons, dendrites, and dendritic branching is observed. However, mechanisms that underlie the observed dysfunctional brain development in Down syndrome are not clear.
OBJECTIVES. Because diverse amino acids and monoamines are critical for normal brain development, we wanted to determine whether dysfunctional brain development observed in subjects with Down syndrome is associated with altered brain amino acid and/or monoamine levels.
DESIGN/METHODS. We quantified tissue concentrations of diverse amino acids, including γ-aminobutyric acid and taurine, and the monoamines serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine in the frontal cortex of fetal Down syndrome tissue at a gestational age of ∼20 weeks versus age-matched control aborted fetuses.
RESULTS. Fetal Down syndrome brains showed reductions in the levels of serotonin, γ-aminobutyric acid, taurine, and dopamine in the frontal cortex. No alteration in the levels of arginine, aspartate, glutamine, glutamate, glycine, histidine, serine, or noradrenaline was observed.
CONCLUSIONS. Serotonin, γ-aminobutyric acid, taurine, and dopamine are critical for the acquisition of brain morphologic features, neuronal and glia proliferation, and synapse formation. The detected reductions in the levels of these neurotransmitters may indicate potential mechanisms for the observed dysfunctional neuronal development in the Down syndrome fetal brain.
Herpes Simplex Virus IgA in Pregnancy
Authors: Meiland Hanne T. , Hebjørrn Søren , Andersen Susanne Møller , Larsson Anne‐Marie , Norrlind Bodil 
Published: November 2007

AbstractFrom 170 pregnant women, cervico‐vaginal secretion, serum and amnion fluid were collected to determine concentrations of herpes simplex virus (HSV) IgA in different risk groups. We found a higher concentration of HSV IgA in cervicovaginal secretions in women with positive cultures, compared with women with negative cultures. Women with a prior history of genital HSV infections also had higher levels of HSV‐IgA in cervico‐vaginal secretions, compared with those with no HSV history, but the differences were not statistically significant. The concentrations of HSV IgA in cervico‐vaginal secretions were not correlated to any other risk group defined in the study. An asymptomatic mother with no previous history of genital HSV infection, but belonging to the risk groups gave birth to an infant who developed neonatal herpes on the 4th day of life. Women at risk for viral shedding during gestation and at the time of delivery cannot be identified solely on the basis of grouping into risk groups and/or on concentration of HSV IgA in cervico‐vaginal secretion.
Effect of Exercise on Placental Blood Flow in Pregnancies Complicated by Hypertension, Diabetes or Intrahepatic Cholestasis
Authors: Rauramo I. , Forss M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe effects of a standardized exercise test on intervillous placental blood flow were studied in 13 hypertensive, 10 diabetic and 8 cholestatic pregnant women in late pregnancy, and the results were compared with those of a normal control group. Analysis of variance for repeated measures revealed that in all the pathologic groups, placental blood flow was lower than in the controls. In all groups placental blood flow rose slightly 1 min after the cessation of exercise. The diabetics showed a decreased placental blood flow 30 min after the cessation of the exercise test (p > 0.021. In diabetics, a fall was found in stroke volume, from 63 ± 12 ml (mean ± SD) before the exercise to 53 ± 11 ml 30 min after the cessation of exercise (p > 0.051, and a rise in peripheral vascular resistance, from 1540± 200 (mean± SD) dynes/cm5 before exercise to 1750 ± 390 dynes/cm5 30 min after the cessation of exercise (p > 0.051. Pre‐eclamptic patients had a higher peripheral vascular resistance than had normal controls. Pre‐eclamptic, diabetic and cholestatic patients had lower cardiac index values than the normal subjects. The difference was significant in the pre‐eclamptic and diabetic patients at 30 min after the cessation of exercise. Maternal heart rate, and systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures rose significantly from values at rest to values at the end of exercise in all groups. One of the pre‐eclamptic patients showed a 74% decline in placental blood flow 1 min after the cessation of exercise coincident with fetal bradycardia. 30 min after the cessation of exercise the flow was 51% of the pre‐exercise value with reactive fetal heart rate tracing. It is concluded that at least in pregnancies complicated by hypertension or diabetes a submaximal short exercise can cause a fall of cardiac index and placental blood flow and, therefore should be avoided in late pregnancy.
Effect of exercise on Maternal Hemodynamics and Placental Blood Flow in Healthy Women
Authors: Rauramo I. , Forss M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIntervillous placental blood flow responses to standardized exercise during late pregnancy were studied using a Xenon technique in 25 healthy women. Thirteen of them were studied twice between the 32nd and 38th weeks of pregnancy, with mean 32 (range 22 to 40) days between the studies. At the end of a 6–min exercise, mean maternal heart rate had risen from 77±10 (SD) to 154±11 beatshin, amounting to 63% of maximal oxygen uptake. Stroke volume rose by 9%, cardiac output by 65% and cardiac index by 71% as a consequence of exercise, but peripheral vascular resistance declined by 41 %. The placental blood flow was at a similar level after the exercise as before the exercise, being 95±19 (mean±SD) mllmin1100 ml of intervillous space before, 98±24 one min after, and 93 ±16 30 min after the cessation of exercise. No change was found in the level of placental blood flow between the 32–34th and 37– 38th weeks of pregnancy. The placental blood flow had a positive correlation with maternal weight, mean arterial blood pressure and with dia‐stolic blood pressure. Maternal heart rate, cardiac output, cardiac index, placental weight and the birth weight of the infant was not correlated with placental blood flow. It is concluded that in normal pregnancy a short submaximal exercise has little effect on placental blood flow measured after exercise.
Parental Attitudes to Prenatal Information About the Sex of the Fetus
Authors: Sjögren Berit 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWomen undergoing prenatal diagnosis (n = 198) with amniocentesis or chorionic villous biopsy participated in a study of attitudes to information about the sex of the fetus. The women completed two questionnaires on different occasions and about one fourth of them were also interviewed. Furthermore, 20 of the women's consorts were interviewed. The possibility of obtaining information about the sex of the fetus was reported as unimportant for most of the women (78%). Nevertheless, 58% of them wanted to have the information. In the questionnaires, most of the women (84%) rejected the idea of having a legal abortion because of the fetus's sex. In a discussion during the interview, only 33% of the men and women dismissed the probability that in some situations, parents‐to‐be might wish to choose the sex of their child and to do so by means of prenatal diagnosis. At the same time, 57% of the participants deprecated this use of the diagnostic technique. Thus the participants’ answers were contradictory, indicating split attitudes to this problem. The results suggest that it is possible that people may wish to use PND to select the sex of their child. At the same time the way of answering indicates that there is a moral dilemma.
Preoperative Diagnosis of Ovarian Malignancies with Intravenous Digital Subtraction Angiography
Authors: Iwasaka T. , Kishikawa T. , Uchiyama R. , Kudo S. , Matsumoto S. , Sugimori H. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIntravenous digital subtraction angiography was performed on 59 patients with ovarian tumors. Dilatation of the uterine artery and its ovarian branch was relatively frequent in both benign and malignant tumor groups, while dilation of the ovarian artery, and hyper‐vascularity from the uterine artery or the ovarian artery were fairly specific to the malignant tumor group. These five abnormal vascular patterns were evaluated by a scoring system and approximately 75% of malignant and 87% of benign ovarian tumors were correctly diagnosed preoperatively by digital subtraction angiography alone. Intravenous digital subtraction angiography can be applied as an easy, safe, and valuable diagnostic method for ovarian malignancies and can replace conventional pelvic angiography.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Outpatient Endocervical Curettage Using Conventional and Vabra Curettage of the Cervix
Authors: Hald Finn , Kristoffersen Sven Erik , Hairi Jalil , Hansen Mogens Kern 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWith the object of examining the diagnostic accuracy of and pain reaction to endo‐cervical curettage (ECC) either by using a new instrument, Vabra® mc cervix, or with a conventional 3 mm metal curette, 298 patients with histologically verified cervical intra‐epithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cytological suspicion have been involved in a consecutive prospective randomized trial. One hundred and forty‐eight patients underwent curettage with the Vabra instrument (vabrasiol followed by conventional curettage; 150 underwent the same procedure, but in reverse order. In 114 patients, CIN was ascertained in one or both trials. Vabra® mc cervix found normal histology in 23 of these patients (20%), whereas conventional curettage showed normal histology in 58 patients (51%). Quantitatively, Vabra® mc cervix extracted significantly more tissue material than did conventional curettage. The pain intensity when using of Vabra® mc cervix was less servere. The present study showed diagnostic accuracy of Vabra® me cervix to be 80% (95% confidence limits: 63.38–80.73). compared with 49% (95% confidence limits: 35.17–54.35) when using conventional curettage.
Carcinofibroma—A Rare Variant of Mixed Müllerian tumor
Authors: Engdahl Erik , Wolfhagen Ulla 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe report a case of an endometrial neoplasm of Mullerian origin, consisting of a malignant epithelial component and a benign stromal component.Only 3 similar cases have been described previously. By comparative study of other, more common mixed Mullerian tumors, we have tried to determine the behavior and management of this neoplasm.
Albumin Binding of Madds‐A Measure of Bilirubin Binding‐In Women During Pregnancy and After Delivery and in Their Infants
Authors: Ebbesen Finn , Hess Jane , Brodersen Rolf 
Published: November 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the binding potential of MADDS (monoacetyldiaminodiphenyl sulphone) to albumin, a measure for binding of unconjugated bilirubin, in healthy women during pregnancy, during and after delivery, and in their infants. The serum concentrations of unconjugated bilirubin, reserve albumin for binding of MADDS and total albumin were measured in: (a) 21 non‐pregnant women; (b) 16 pregnant women in the 16th‐24th, 28th‐32nd, and 36th‐38th gestational weeks, and at the time of delivery from both mother and infant; and (c) 15 women at the time of delivery, and 24 and 72 hours after delivery. The bilirubin concentrations did not change during pregnancy or at delivery and were very small compared with the concentrations of reserve albumin for binding of MADDS and total albumin. Therefore, the ratio of reserve albumin to total albumin was an expression of the binding potential of the albumin for MADDS in women. During pregnancy, the reserve albumin decreased equal to total albumin, so that the ratio was not significantly changed (p > 0.051. In contrast, at delivery the reserve albumin was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than in the 36th‐38th gestational weeks, without any significant difference in total albumin, i.e. the ratio was significantly lower than during pregnancy (p < 0.01). During the first 3 days after delivery the reserve albumin increased significantly (p<0.05), also without any significant change in total albumin, so that the ratio increased significantly (p<0.05) and was normalized.The binding potential for MADDS to albumin in newborn infants was even lower than that of their mothers. Since the binding‐potential is reduced in both mother and infant at delivery, a relation is suggested.
Responsiveness of L‐S Ratio of the Amniotic Fluid To Intra‐Amniotic Administran of Thyroxine: Role of fetal age
Authors: Romaguera Josefina , Zorrilla Carmen , de la Vega Alberto , Fromm Ruth , Wallach Robert C. , Rodriguez‐Mariani Aixa , Adamsons Karlis 
Published: November 2007

Since 1982 we have accelerated fetal maturation with intra‐amniotic thyr‐oxine (T4) in more than 140 patients. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the rate of change of the ratio of lecithin to sphingomyelin (LIS) after administration of T4 at different gestational ages, and to compare the responses to the first and the second administration of T4. Fifty‐nine cases in which administration of T4 was continued for 2 weeks or more, and in which at least 3 determinations of L/S had been performed, were identified. Gestational age of the fetus at the inititiation of treatment ranged from 26 to 31 weeks (mean 29.3 weeks). Thyroxine was administered weekly in 200 to 500 mcg doses.Administration of T4 prior to the 27th week did not change the L/S. From the 27th and 31st week of gestation, the slope of the L/S, after the initial dose of T4 increased from 0.331wk to 1.05/wk. In contrast the slope of the untreated patients changed little reaching a maximum of 0.22 at the 33 week. L/S>2 was observed in 80% of cases after 2 weeks of therapy, when it had been initiated after the 26th week.The response to the second dose was about twice that of the first in fetuses 5 30 weeks, but was similar to that seen after the initial dose in fetuses >30 weeks. Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) was detected in amniotic fluid in 51% of cases after 2 weeks of treatment, and in 6 instances as early as at the 30th week.Responsiveness of L/S to T4 treatment of the fetus is a function of gestational age and of prior exposure to T4.
Smoking and reproduction: Short and long term effects and benefits of smoking cessation
Authors: Fredricsson Bengt , Gilwam Hans 
Published: November 2007

There have been many attempts during the last years to restrict smoking because of the significant health hazards. In particular the high prevalence of smoking among women in their reproductive years has been a matter of concern.This review was prompted in order to make the medical profession, and gynecologists in particular. confident with the underlying data. This will hopefully result in enabling them to provide balanced information to their patients, not overemphasizing the dangers of smoking, but rather presenting ways to properly recognize and treat tobacco dependence. It is a widely held view that the various risks imposed by smoking are very modest. A doubling of the risk for a rare problem may not prevent many women from continuing to smoke. However, a doubling of the risk for early miscarriage or a significant reduction of success rate in the treatment of infertility may be much more discouraging. The purpose of this review is to list the various effects smoking may have on the different phases of reproduction and to present an overview of the explanation models which have been suggested. Late effects on the child and its development will also be discussed. Hopefully, this will lead to proper concern about the problems and thus increase the motivation to quit smoking even before attempting a pregnancy. In addition, we give some hints on smoking cessation programs.
Lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies in an obstetric population
Authors: Rix Per , Stentoft Jesper , Aunsholt Niels‐Aage , Dueholm Margit , Tilma Karen Andersen , Høier‐Madsen Mimi 
Published: November 2007

Lupus anticoagulant (LA) and anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) have been reported to he associated with fetal loss.Objective. Our aim was to estimate the incidence of LA and to examine the correlation hetween LA and ACA in pregnant women.To investigate the clinical significance of LA and ACA in an obstetric population.Study design. A prospective, cross sectional study of 2856 consecutive women admitted to a department of obstetrics and gynecology for delivery or due to pregnancy complications during an 11 month period.Methods. Activated partial thromboplastine time (Am) was determined in all patients. LA and ACA were determined if APTT ≥ 35 sec. For reference ACA was determined in a group of randomly selected patients with APTT < 35 sec. The results were analyzed in relation to the obstetrical records.Results. Overall incidence of APTT ≥ 35 sec.: 7.0%, significantly more frequent in patients with early spontaneous abortion (18.6%) and intrauterine growth retardation (17.5%).Incidence of LA 0.07%. The patients had undetectable ACA and no clinical condition related to LA.Incidence of ACA class IgM (IgM‐ACA) in patients with APTT ≥35: 20.4%. significantly higher than in the reference group (9.6%).Uncomplicated pregnancy in 84% of patients with IgM‐ACA.No cases of ACA class IgG(IgG‐ACA) in patients with APTT ≥ 35 but two cases in the reference group (one normal pregnancy, one spontaneous abortion).Conclusion. LA is a rare manifestation with uncertain significance in otherwise healthy pregnant women. IgM‐ACA in low titer occurs relatively frequently during normal pregnancy.
Neonatal septicemia caused by pneumococci
Authors: Johnsson Hans , Bergström Staffan , Ewald Uwe , Schwan Anna 
Published: November 2007

Pneumococci (Streptococcus pneumoniae) infrequently cause neonatal septicemia. An increased number of cases have been reported in recent years, but no increase in the relative incidence among neonatal infections has been noted.On the basis of two cases of our own and a review of 40 recently published case reports, the clinical characteristics of pneumococcal septicemia are described and the pathogenesis is discussed.The presenting clinical picture in early‐onset pneumococcal septicemia is dominated by respiratory distress, frequently accompanied by leukopenia, and is indistinguishable from that seen in septicemia caused by Group B Streptococci (GBS). The onset is preceded by prelabor rupture of the fetal membranes in almost half of the instances. The mortality is 50%, twice the figure given in recent GBS reports.