bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing Effective Metrics
Authors: Lee Reginald Tomas
Published: June 2013

Every company uses metrics to understand how the business is performing. Metrics transform data into information by answering important questions: What type of return are we getting on our investment in capital? How efficient are our accounts receivable processes? But the author, a business consultant who takes on companies' most difficult challenges, has found that often company metrics are poor. Sometimes they are overly complex, or they mean different things to different people. So CEOs and top financial officers do not really have the critical information they need to improve the business. So what are the secrets to designing simple, yet effective, metrics to help your company prosper? This article shows you how to overcome the challenges in designing good metrics, and offers solid suggestions that you can use. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Doing More With Less: Using Noncash Incentives to Improve Employee Performance
Authors: Dzuranin Ann C. , Randolph David , Stuart Nathan V.
Published: June 2013

Employees will usually say they would prefer cold cash rather than a noncash incentive. Interestingly, however, when employee productivity is evaluated using cash incentives versus noncash incentives, noncash incentives have proven to be effective at improving performance and employee satisfaction. This article discusses the issues and provides several broad suggestions for successful noncash incen‐tive programs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigating the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ): Construction of a Short Form and Evidence of a Two‐Factor Higher Order Structure of Mindfulness
Authors: Tran Ulrich S. , Glück Tobias M. , Nader Ingo W.
Published: June 2013

Objectives

Past research of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) lacks clear results regarding its factorial validity, item fitting, mindfulness in the general population, and on the higher order structure of mindfulness. We derived an alternative two‐factor higher order structure for the FFMQ, delineating the attentional and experiential aspects of mindfulness.

Method

Data of 640 persons from the Austrian community were used for primary analyses, and data of 333 Austrian students were used for cross‐validation. Confirmatory analyses and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were utilized to investigate psychometric and structural properties. Associations with related variables and indicators of mental health were examined.

Results

Confirmatory models fitted only poorly on the full 39‐item FFMQ. Fit was acceptable in an abridged 20‐item version in both samples. The Nonreact scale had only weak psychometric properties. ESEM analyses suggested a good fit of two higher order factors and revealed structural differences between the samples. Beneficial effects of mindfulness appeared to be uniquely associated with the experiential aspects of mindfulness. Strategies of emotion regulation showed differential associations with the two higher order factors in the two samples.

Conclusions

Our findings are relevant both with regard to conceptual issues on mindfulness and the assessment of mindfulness with the FFMQ. Replications in meditating samples and in patients are needed.
Latitudinal dependence of nonlinear interaction between electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave and radiation belt relativistic electrons
Authors: Su Zhenpeng , Zhu Hui , Xiao Fuliang , Zheng Huinan , Shen Chao , Wang Yuming , Wang Shui
Published: June 2013

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are long suggested to account for the rapid loss of radiation belt relativistic electrons. Here we perform both theoretical analysis and numerical simulation to comprehensively investigate the nonlinear interaction between EMIC wave and relativistic electrons. In particular, we emphasize the dependence of nonlinear processes on the electron initial latitude. The nonlinear phase trapping yields negative equatorial pitch angle transport, with efficiency varying over the electron initial latitude, implying that it can increase the loss rate predicted by quasilinear theory. The nonlinear channel effect phase bunching produces positive equatorial pitch angle transport, less dependent on the electron initial latitude, suggesting that it can decrease the loss rate predicted by quasilinear theory. The nonlinear cluster effect phase bunching alternately causes positive and negative equatorial pitch angle transport, quasi‐periodically dependent on the electron initial latitude, suggesting that it can either decrease or increase the loss rate predicted by the quasilinear theory. Such latitudinal dependence of nonlinear processes should be taken into account in the evaluation of radiation belt electron loss rate driven by EMIC waves.
Investigation of seismic anisotropy beneath the Dead Sea fault using dense networks of broadband stations
Authors: Kaviani Ayoub , Hofstetter Rami , Rümpker Georg , Weber Michael
Published: June 2013

Shear waveforms from core‐refracted (SKS) phases recorded at 105 portable stations belonging to the DESERT and DESIRE campaigns and nine permanent broadband stations of the Israel Seismological Network are analyzed to study polarization seismic anisotropy beneath the region of the Dead Sea Transform fault in the Middle East. Shear wave splitting parameters exhibit variations with back azimuth (initial polarization) of the incoming SKS waves. The pattern of this variation is nearly constant along the strike of the fault suggesting a laterally uniform anisotropic structure beneath the Dead Sea region. The modeling of the azimuthal variations of the shear wave splitting parameters and split waveforms yields two‐layered anisotropic models consisting of an upper layer with nearly N‐S symmetry axis and a deeper layer with around N25°E symmetry axis. The split time is almost equally partitioned between the upper and lower layers allotting a value of 0.6–0.8 s to each layer. 2‐D finite difference modeling across the southern segment of the Dead Sea Transform fault demonstrates that anisotropic structure in the strike‐normal direction is relatively uniform. The Dead Sea Transform fault appears not to have a significant role in the development of the regional anisotropic fabric. The upper anisotropic layer is possibly related to a fossil fabric in the lithosphere, inherited from the Precambrian Pan‐African Orogeny. The lower layer may be related to the mantle deformation due to the relative motion between the lithospheric plates and the asthenosphere and possibly affected by the local flow field due to mantle plumes as inferred by other studies.
Laboratory measurements of the longitudinal and transverse wave velocities of compacted bentonite as a function of water content, temperature, and confining pressure
Authors: Tisato Nicola , Marelli Stefano
Published: June 2013

Bentonite is a material commonly included in the design of the sealing liners of radioactive waste repositories. Understanding the evolution of its elastic properties during the repository lifetime could provide a powerful aid to the development of nonintrusive monitoring techniques based on tomographic methods. In this contribution, we present the results of a series of laboratory experiments aimed at measuring the elastic properties of a compacted bentonite at different water contents, temperatures, and hydrostatic confining pressures similar to those expected in a realistic radioactive waste repository. We prepared four sets of samples at different water contents (10, 20, 35, and 52%); we measured that VP and Vs (and the derived bulk and shear moduli) (i) increase significantly (up to 60%) with increasing water content, (ii) decrease up to 15% with increasing temperature in the range of 30 to 80°C, and (iii) increase significantly with confining pressure following different paths highly dependent on the water content (with drier samples showing stronger dependence on confining pressure). Further, we provide empirical relations between ultrasonic velocities and temperature, and ultrasonic velocities and pressure. We also measured the effects of dehydration at temperatures up to 160°C, which led to the structural failure of samples. Finally, we modeled our results according to two widespread effective elastic media models, Hashin‐Shtrikman bounds and modified Voigt average, achieving only partial success in describing our results. In the light of these results, the increase of seismic wave speeds as function of increasing confining pressure is interpreted as an effect of the pore collapse.
Aerosol‐nutrient‐induced picoplankton growth in Lake Tahoe
Authors: Mackey Katherine R. M. , Hunter Deborah , Fischer Emily V. , Jiang Yilun , Allen Brant , Chen Ying , Liston Anne , Reuter John , Schladow Geoff , Paytan Adina
Published: June 2013

Lake Tahoe is an oligotrophic lake appreciated for its transparent waters, yet the Lake's clarity has been declining for several decades due in part to eutrophication. At the same time, a shift from nitrogen (N) toward phosphorus (P) limitation of phytoplankton has occurred that could be due to atmospheric deposition of nutrients with high N:P ratios. Atmospheric particle samples collected during 2005–2006 had a mean soluble N:P ratio of 192:1, well above the Redfield ratio of 16:1 typically required by phytoplankton. Samples collected during the Angora Fire that occurred in 2007 were particularly enriched in N relative to P, with a mean ratio >2800:1. A bioassay incubation experiment was conducted using locally collected atmospheric total suspended particulate (TSP) matter. TSP samples with high ammonium (NH4+) and low P content favored the growth of picoplankton (cells <3 µm) and opportunistic filamentous cyanobacteria, whereas larger nanophytoplankton (cells 3–20 µm) were better competitors when more P was available. Picoplankton growth can increase primary productivity without causing a large increase in chlorophyll (chl a) or biomass. Aerosol‐nutrient‐induced picoplankton growth (together with shifts in grazing dynamics and stratification trends) may contribute to the uncoupling between primary productivity, chl a, and biomass that has been observed in Lake Tahoe in the last several decades and, in particular, following the Wheeler and Angora Fires. The chemical composition of aerosols has a marked impact on ecosystem dynamics in Lake Tahoe with potential consequences to lake productivity and microbial community dynamics.
Decadal analysis of deceased organ donation in Spain and the United States linking an increased donation rate and the utilization of older donors
Authors: Halldorson Jeff , Roberts John Paul
Published: June 2013

After the foundation of the National Transplant Organization, Spanish rates of deceased donor donation rapidly outpaced US growth over the decade from 1989 to 1999. An analysis of the following decade, 1999–2009, demonstrated a markedly flattened growth curve for Spanish deceased donor organ procurement, which increased only 2.4% from 33.6 to 34.4 donors per million population (pmp). In comparison, over the same decade in the United States, the rate of deceased donation increased from 20.9 to 26.3 donors pmp (25.8%). An age group comparison demonstrated a much higher donation rate among older donors in Spain. For example, the number of donors older than 70 years increased from 3.8 to 8.8 pmp (a 132% increase), and they now constitute 25.4% of all Spanish organ donors. In contrast, the number of US donors older than 70 years increased from 1.0 to 1.3 pmp, and they constitute only 4.4% of total deceased donors. Over the same decade, the number of younger donors (15–30 years old) decreased from 6.6 to 2.5 pmp (a 62% decrease) in Spain, and this contrasted with a slightly increased US donation rate for the same age subgroup (a 15.5% increase from 5.8 to 6.7 pmp). Although older donors were more rarely used in the United States, growth in donation over the 2 decades (1989–2009) was strongly associated with the utilization of donors aged 65 or older (P < 0.01). United Network for Organ Sharing regions demonstrated significant differences in utilization rates for older donors. In conclusion, strategies aimed toward achieving US donation rates equivalent to the Spanish benchmark should target improved utilization rates for older donors in the United States instead of emulating elements of the Spanish organ procurement system. Liver Transpl 19:981–986, 2013. © 2013 AASLD.
Impact of the center on graft failure after liver transplantation
Authors: Asrani Sumeet K. , Kim Ray W. , Edwards Erick B. , Larson Joseph J. , Thabut Gabriel , Kremers Walter K. , Therneau Terry M. , Heimbach Julie
Published: June 2013

The hospital at which liver transplantation (LT) is performed has a substantial impact on post-LT outcomes. Center-specific outcome data are closely monitored not only by the centers themselves but also by patients and government regulatory agencies. However, the true magnitude of this center effect, apart from the effects of the region and donor service area (DSA) as well as recipient and donor determinants of graft survival, has not been examined. We analyzed data submitted to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network for all adult (age ≥ 18 years) primary LT recipients (2005–2008). Using a mixed effects, proportional hazards regression analysis, we modeled graft failure within 1 year after LT on the basis of center (de-identified), region, DSA, and donor and recipient characteristics. At 115 unique centers, 14,654 recipients underwent transplantation. Rates of graft loss within a year varied from 5.9% for the lowest quartile of centers to 20.2% for the highest quartile. Gauged by a comparison of the 75th and 25th percentiles of the data, the magnitude of the center effect on graft survival (1.49-fold change) was similar to that of the recipient Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (1.47) and the donor risk index (DRI; 1.45). The center effect was similar across the DRI and MELD score quartiles and was not associated with a center's annual LT volume. After stratification by region and DSA, the magnitude of the center effect, though decreased, remained significant and substantial (1.30-fold interquartile difference). In conclusion, the LT center is a significant predictor of graft failure that is independent of region and DSA as well as donor and recipient characteristics. Liver Transpl 19:957–964, 2013. © 2013 AASLD.
A Novel 3D Integrated Platform for the High‐Resolution Study of Cell Migration Plasticity
Authors: Schneider Julian , Bachmann Tobias , Franco Davide , Richner Patrizia , Galliker Patrick , Tiwari Manish K. , Ferrari Aldo , Poulikakos Dimos
Published: June 2013

Understanding the mechanisms of interstitial cancer migration is of great scientific and medical interest. Creating 3D platforms, conducive to optical microscopy and mimicking the physical parameters (in plane and out of plane) involved in interstitial migration, is a major step forward in this direction. Here, a novel approach is used to directly print free‐form, 3D micropores on basal scaffolds containing microgratings optimized for contact guidance. The platforms so formed are validated by monitoring cancer cell migration and micropore penetration with high‐resolution optical microscopy. The shapes, sizes and deformability of the micropores are controllable, paving the way to decipher their role in interstitial migration.
Positive solutions for a fourth order discrete p‐Laplacian boundary value problem
Authors: Xu Jiafa
Published: June 2013

In this paper, we study the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions for the following fourth order nonlinear discrete p‐Laplacian boundary value problem
urn:x-wiley:01704214:media:mma2766:mma2766-math-0001 where φp(s) = | s | p − 2s, p > 1, is continuous, T is an integer with T ≥ 5 and . By virtue of Jensen's discrete inequalities, we use fixed point index theory to establish our main results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibitory effect of glyceollins on vasculogenesis through suppression of endothelial progenitor cell function
Authors: Choi Jin‐Hwa , Nguyen Minh Phuong , Jung Seok‐Yun , Kwon Sang‐Mo , Jee Jun‐Goo , Bae Jong‐Sup , Lee Sangkyu , Lee Min Young , Lee You‐Mie
Published: June 2013

Scope

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are derived from hematopoietic stem cells, and have the ability to differentiate into mature endothelial cells and contribute to neovascularization. Glyceollins are a type of phytoalexin produced in soybeans under stress conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of glyceollin treatment on EPCs during early tumor vasculogenesis.

Methods and results

We found that glyceollin treatment significantly decreased the number of EPC colony‐forming units in human cord blood‐derived AC133+ cells and mouse bone‐marrow‐derived c‐Kit+/Sca‐1+/Lin− cells. Glyceollin treatment diminished the number of lineage‐committed EPC cells in a dose‐dependent manner (1–20 μM). Glyceollin treatment inhibited EPC migration, tube formation and the mRNA expression of angiopoietin‐1 (Ang‐1), Tie‐2, stromal‐derived factor‐1 (SDF‐1), C‐X‐C‐chemokine receptor‐4 (CXCR4), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in cultured EPCs. Glyceollin treatment suppressed activation of Akt, Erk, and eNOS induced by SDF‐1α or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Treatment with 10 mg/kg glyceollins significantly reduced the number of tumor‐induced circulating EPCs and the incorporation of EPCs into neovessels in bone marrow transplanted mice.

Conclusion

These results suggest that glyceollins inhibit the function of EPCs in tumor neovascularization. Glyceollins from soybean elicitation could be beneficial in prevention of cancer development via vasculogenesis.
On the interference of J(HH) modulation in HSQMBC‐IPAP and HMBC‐IPAP experiments
Authors: Saurí Josep , Parella Teodor
Published: June 2013

The effects of phase modulation due to homonuclear proton–proton coupling constants in HSQMBC‐IPAP and HMBC‐IPAP experiments are experimentally evaluated. We show that accurate values of small proton–carbon coupling constants, nJCH, can be extracted even for phase‐distorted cross‐peaks obtained from a selHSQMBC experiment applied simultaneously on two mutually J‐coupled protons. On the other hand, an assessment of the reliability of nJCH measurement from distorted cross‐peaks obtained in broadband IPAP versions of equivalent HMBC and HSQMBC experiments is also presented. Finally, we show that HMBC‐COSY experiments could be an excellent complement to HMBC for the measurement of small nJCH values. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Granular element method for three‐dimensional discrete element calculations
Authors: Lim Keng‐Wit , Andrade José E.
Published: June 2013

This paper endows the recently‐proposed granular element method (GEM) with the ability to perform 3D discrete element calculations. By using non‐uniform rational B‐Splines to accurately represent complex grain geometries, we proposed an alternative approach to clustering‐based and polyhedra‐based discrete element methods whereby the need for complicated and ad hoc approaches to construct 3D grain geometries is entirely bypassed. We demonstrate the ability of GEM in capturing arbitrary‐shaped 3D grains with great ease, flexibility, and without excessive geometric information. Furthermore, the applicability of GEM is enhanced by its tight integration with existing non‐uniform rational B‐Splines modeling tools and ability to provide a seamless transition from binary images of real grain shapes (e.g., from 3D X‐ray CT) to modeling and discrete mechanics computations.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aerosolized Amphotericin B Lipid Complex as Adjunctive Treatment for Fungal Lung Infection in Patients with Cancer‐Related Immunosuppression and Recipients of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Safdar Amar , Rodriguez Gilhen H.
Published: June 2013

Study Objective

Aerosolized amphotericin B lipid complex (aeABLC) has been successfully used to prevent fungal disease. Experience with aeABLC as treatment of fungal lung disease is limited.

Design

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of aeABLC adjunct therapy for fungal lung disease in a retrospective study of 32 immunosuppressed adults. All values are given as ± standard deviation.

Setting

National Cancer Institute‐designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Patients

Acute leukemia (69%) and severe neutropenia (63%) were common. Fifty‐six percent of patients had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation 185 ± 424 days prior to aeABLC was commenced.

Measurement and Main Results

High‐dose corticosteroids were administered during aeABLC in 28% of patients. Fungal lung disease was proven or probable in 41% of patients. Most patients (78%) received concurrent systemic antifungal therapy for a median of 14 ± 18 days before aeABLC. The median cumulative aeABLC dose was 1050 ± 2368 mg, and the median duration of aeABLC therapy was 28 ± 130 days. Most patients (78%) received 50 mg aeABLC twice daily. Partial or complete resolution of fungal lung disease was noted in 50% of patients. In three patients (9%) modest cough, mild bronchospasm, and transient chest pain with accompanying nausea and vomiting resolved completely after discontinuation of aeABLC. No patient required hospitalization for drug toxicity or had a serious (grade III or IV) drug‐related adverse event.

Conclusion

Treatment with aeABLC was tolerated without serious toxicity and may be considered in the setting of severe immunosuppression, cancer, and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with difficult‐to‐treat fungal lung disease.
Patients' and family members' views on patient‐centered communication during cancer care
Authors: Mazor Kathleen M. , Beard Reneé L. , Alexander Gwen L. , Arora Neeraj K. , Firneno Cassandra , Gaglio Bridget , Greene Sarah M. , Lemay Celeste A. , Robinson Brandi E. , Roblin Douglas W. , Walsh Kathleen , Street Richard L. , Gallagher Thomas H.
Published: June 2013

Objectives

To explore patients' and family members' views on communication during cancer care and to identify those aspects of clinician–patient communication which were most important to patients and family members.

Methods

We conducted a secondary data analysis of qualitative data from 137 patients with cancer and family members of patients with cancer. We used a modified version of the constant comparative method and coding paradigm of grounded theory.

Results

Patients want sensitive, caring clinicians who provide information that they need, when they need it, in a way that they can understand; who listen and respond to questions and concerns, and who attempt to understand the patient's experience. Effective information exchange and a positive interpersonal relationship with the clinician were of fundamental importance to patients and family members. These were interrelated; for instance, failure to provide information a patient needed could damage the relationship, whereas excellent listening could foster the relationship. Information exchange and relationship were also integral to decision‐making, managing uncertainty, responding to emotions, and self‐management. Clinicians who were responsive to patients' needs beyond the immediate medical encounter were valued.

Conclusions

The complexity of cancer care today suggests that efforts to improve communication must be multilevel, acknowledging and addressing patient, clinician, organizational and policy barriers, and facilitators. Measurement tools are needed to assess cancer patients' and family members' experiences with communication over the course of cancer care to provide meaningful, actionable feedback to those seeking to optimize their effectiveness in communicating with patients with cancer. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
New Measures of Population Reproduction for an Era of High Migration
Authors: Ediev Dalkhat , Coleman David , Scherbov Sergei
Published: June 2013

Migration has become a key factor in the growth and replacement of populations. But demographic tools for its analysis remain simple. This paper is our response to those problems. We propose a set of simple, single‐number indicators, which summarise the aggregate effect of the major contributing factors to the reproduction of populations. Our estimates imply that the persistence of rates observed since 2004 would lead to robust population growth in the North‐Western and Northern economically developed European countries. On the other hand, countries in the East of the EU and Central European countries would face substantial population decline due both to their low fertility and to low or negative net migration. If current inflows and fertility levels persist, then within 50 years, people who migrated after 2004 and their descendants will comprise more than half of the population at childbearing and younger ages in some European countries. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Observations of summer turbulent surface fluxes in a High Arctic fjord
Authors: Kral Stephan T. , Sjöblom Anna , Nygård Tiina
Published: June 2013

The summer atmospheric boundary layer over a fjord in the High Arctic has been investigated during three consecutive years (2008–2010). Measurements of turbulent surface layer fluxes of momentum and sensible heat using a sonic anemometer and slow‐response instruments were taken from a tower on the coast of Isfjorden, Svalbard, and analysed for seasonal variability and differing fetch conditions. The results resembled the atmospheric boundary layer characteristics previously found for ice‐free winter conditions. The momentum flux was usually directed downwards, but for low wind speeds there was a possible contribution of swell, giving an upward directed momentum flux. The cross‐wind component of the momentum flux sometimes contributed significantly to the total flux. The sensible heat flux was very dependent on the origin of air, whether it had a long over‐water fetch, or originated from land areas with or without glaciers. In addition to non‐stationarity of the flow due to the influence of the fjord's shape and its surrounding topography, low wind speeds questioned the validity of the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, whereas the over‐water fetch and off‐wind angle were of minor importance. Moreover, some results, especially the off‐wind angle, were very sensitive to how the raw data were treated, in particular which coordinate rotation method was employed, the double rotation or the planar fit method.
Offline estimates and tuning of mesospheric gravity‐wave forcing using Met Office analyses
Authors: Long D. J. , Jackson D. R. , Thuburn J.
Published: June 2013

Estimates of small‐scale non‐orographic gravity‐wave forcing in the mesosphere are investigated using Met Office middle atmospheric analyses. Such estimates are obtained using the ultrasimple spectral parametrization (USSP) gravity‐wave scheme, currently employed operationally by the Met Office. A climatology of monthly zonal mean gravity‐wave forcing from January 2005–December 2010 is presented, along with a discussion of estimated uncertainties and comparison with previous studies. Mesospheric gravity‐wave forcing is found to be underestimated, consistent with the known seasonal evolution of extratropical mesospheric temperature biases within the Met Office assimilated dataset. The sensitivity of gravity‐wave forcing to various parameters within theUSSPscheme is investigated. Subsequent experiments diagnose the temperature response in a free‐running version of the Unified Model when mesospheric gravity‐wave forcing is increased through perturbing the energy scalefactor parameter within theUSSPscheme and imposing momentum‐flux conservation at the model lid. For physically justifiable perturbations to theUSSPscheme, significant temperature responses of ∼10–25 K are seen for mesospheric polar regions under solstice conditions, highlighting the positive impact such changes could possibly have on known temperature biases within the Met Office assimilated dataset.
Acquisition and Testing, DT/OT Testing: The Need for Two‐Parameter Requirements
Authors: Hill Raymond R. , Gutman Alex J. , Chambal Stephen P. , Kitchen Jerry W.
Published: June 2013

An important initiative within the Department of Defense is the increased emphasis on using experimental design methods for test and evaluation. In this work, we discuss the underlying assumptions associated with hypothesis testing using an analogy to the legal system, tie this analogy to test and make the case for the use of two parameters in system specification, an objective and a threshold level. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reliability Modeling for Ultrathin Gate Oxides Subject to Logistic Degradation Processes with Random Onset Time
Authors: Peng Hao , Feng Qianmei
Published: June 2013

With device dimension downscaling, the oxide thickness reduction less than 3 nm in a metal–oxide–semiconductor structure has led to important changes in degradation mechanisms and failure modes. After the first breakdown event of ultrathin gate oxides, the leakage current presents a less dramatic and noisy continuous breakdown mode called progressive breakdown. In this article, we characterize the overall breakdown process of ultrathin gate oxides as a randomized logistic degradation process with a random onset time. The explicit result of the lifetime distribution is derived on the basis of this logistic degradation model. A numerical example is provided to calculate the lifetime distribution. The simulated lifetime data of our model fits lognormal distribution better than the Weibull distribution, which agrees with the experimental work in literature. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Efficient Adaptive Sequential Methodology for Expensive Response Surface Optimization
Authors: Alaeddini Adel , Murat Alper , Yang Kai , Ankenman Bruce
Published: June 2013

The preset response surface methodology (RSM) designs are commonly used in a wide range of process and design optimization applications. Although they offer ease of implementation and good performance, they are not sufficiently adaptive to reduce the required number of experiments and thus are not cost effective for applications with high cost of experimentation. We propose an efficient adaptive sequential methodology based on optimal design and experiments ranking for response surface optimization (O‐ASRSM) for industrial experiments with high experimentation cost, limited experimental resources, and requiring high design optimization performance. The proposed approach combines the concepts from optimal design of experiments, nonlinear optimization, and RSM. By using the information gained from the previous experiments, O‐ASRSM designs the subsequent experiment by simultaneously reducing the region of interest and by identifying factor combinations for new experiments. Given a given response target, O‐ASRSM identifies the input factor combination in less number of experiments than the classical single‐shot RSM designs. We conducted extensive simulated experiments involving quadratic and nonlinear response functions. The results show that the O‐ASRSM method outperforms the popular central composite design, the Box–Behnken design, and the optimal designs and is competitive with other sequential response surface methods in the literature. Furthermore, results indicate that O‐ASRSM's performance is robust with respect to the increasing number of factors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance Evaluation of One‐Class Classification‐based Control Charts through an Industrial Application
Authors: Gani Walid , Limam Mohamed
Published: June 2013

This article examines the performance of two one‐class classification‐based control charts through a real industrial application. These two control charts are the kernel distance–based control chart, known as the K chart, and the k‐nearest neighbour data description‐based control chart, referred to as the KNN chart. We studied the effectiveness of both charts in detecting out‐of‐control observations in phases I and II. Furthermore, a simulation study is conducted to compare the performance of the two control charts using the average run length criterion. The results of the comparative study show that the K chart is sensitive to small shifts in mean vector, whereas the KNN chart is sensitive to moderate shifts in mean vector. In addition, the article provides the MATLAB codes for the K chart and KNN chart developed by the authors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Human Reliability Analysis in Spaceflight Applications
Authors: Calhoun Jessica , Savoie Chris , Randolph‐Gips Mary , Bozkurt Ipek
Published: June 2013

Predicting and mitigating human error in manned spaceflight can be the difference between mission success and lost vehicle or crewmember. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has used the Cognitive Reliability Error Analysis Model analysis developed by the nuclear industry during the last 30 years of manned spaceflight to predict human error. Although the analysis has proven to be reliable, it does not take into account operations specific for long duration spaceflight such as crew training and ground support. This article first explains the principles of the Cognitive Reliability Error Analysis Model and how it is used at NASA. Then, the probability for error for an International Space Station ingress procedure is calculated using standard performance shaping factors developed for the nuclear power industry. Lastly, the environmental and operational constraints of space flight are used to develop new performance shaping factors specific to a NASA‐operated spacecraft. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CUSUM Procedures for Health Care Surveillance
Authors: Jiang Wei , Shu Lianjie , Zhao Honghao , Tsui Kwok‐Leung
Published: June 2013

Detecting increases of incidence rate of an adverse health event is critical to health surveillance. Motivated by successful applications in industry quality control and productivity improvement, various cumulative sum (CUSUM) procedures have been developed to monitor rate changes of health events when population size changes over time. Average run length, which is commonly used in quality control, may be inappropriate in some situations when comparing control chart performance in health surveillance applications. This paper provides a thorough statistical comparison of CUSUM‐type procedures in the health care context based on different evaluation metrics. We show that different measures may favor different surveillance methods depending on the corresponding design criteria. We thus recommend a probabilistic measure as the criterion for design and evaluation of CUSUM control charts in health care surveillance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Economic–statistical Design of Maximum Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Control Charts
Authors: Lu Shin‐Li , Huang Chi‐Jui , Chiu Wen‐Chih
Published: June 2013

The maximum exponentially weighted moving average (MaxEWMA) control chart effectively combines the two EWMA charts into one chart and monitors both increases and decreases in the mean and/or variability. In this paper, we develop the economic–statistical design of the MaxEWMA control chart in which the Taguchi's quadratic loss function is incorporated into the Duncan's economical model. Numerical simulations are executed to minimize the expected total cost model and determine the optimal decision variables, including the sample size, sampling interval, control limit width, and the smoothing constant of the MaxEWMA control chart. It is shown that the optimal control limit width and smoothing constant increase as the optimal cost value increases and that both the optimal sample size and sampling interval always decrease as the magnitudes of mean and/or variance shifts increase. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phase II Monitoring of Nonlinear Profile Variance Using Wavelet
Authors: Nikoo Mehrdad , Noorossana Rassoul
Published: June 2013

In some statistical process control applications, the quality of a process or a product can be characterized by a nonlinear relationship between a response variable and one or more explanatory variables. Monitoring nonlinear profiles using nonlinear regression has been proposed by several researchers as a potential area for research. To avoid disadvantages of parameter estimation in nonlinear regression, we used nonparametric regression with wavelets for monitoring nonlinear profiles. In nonparametric regression framework, traditional variance estimator is not proper; other estimators should be used instead. Parametric or nonparametric control charts in phase II are proposed to monitor error term variance when nonparametric regression with wavelet is used. Multivariate control chart based on regression coefficients (approximate wavelet coefficients) is added to variance control chart to check stability in the process mean. It is well known that the performance of control schemes in detecting shifts in multivariate control charts deteriorates as the dimension of regression coefficient increases. To improve the performance of control schemes, we considered decomposition level as a smoothing parameter, which determines the form of regression function (size of approximate wavelet coefficients vector) in nonparametric regression with wavelet. A method based on an analysis of variance is proposed to determine the optimal decomposition level. The statistical performances of the proposed methods are evaluated using average run length criterion using vertical density profile data. Numerical results indicate that the proposed methods perform satisfactorily. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ESTIMATING ANNUAL RIVERBANK EROSION RATES—A DENDROGEOMORPHIC METHOD
Authors: Dick B. M. , Hey R. , Peralta P. , Jewell I. , Simon P. , Peszlen I.
Published: June 2013

An accurate estimation of riverbank erosion rates is critical for the evaluation of the past, present, and future sediment regime of river systems. Understanding these relationships allows watershed managers and regulators to prioritize river restoration and contaminated site remediation projects. In this dendrogeomorphic study, changes in the anatomy of tree roots exposed between 1 and 31 years were used to estimate the average annual erosion rates of riverbank sediments on a large river in Michigan, USA. Exposed root samples from diffuse and ring‐porous hardwoods, together with buried ones as controls, were analyzed. Differences in the arrangement, size and frequency of vessels, fiber diameter, cell wall thickness, growth ring width, and scarring between the exposed and the buried samples were used to identify the first year of root exposure. Results of the regression analysis between the average annual erosion rate and the Bank Erosion Hazard Index (BEHI) indicated that the more recently exposed roots (less than 7 years in this study) explained more of the variance (R2 = 0.67) than when all samples were included (R2 = 0.38). Although the average erosion rates for long periods can be accurately determined from the dating of exposed tree roots, attempts to relate these rates using the BEHI for longer periods are less successful, as BEHI values can vary considerably over time as the riverbank erodes. Consequently, when using exposed tree roots to develop regression equations and erosion rate curves for the estimation of erosion rates based on BEHI scores, it is necessary to use roots that were recently exposed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The analysis of directionality of honed cylinder liners surfaces
Authors: Pawlus P. , Reizer R. , Wieczorowski M.
Published: June 2013

Various methods describing the directionality of honed cylinder liner surface topography are compared. The procedure of deep valleys recognition and determination of angular spectra on the basis of ratio of valleys widths in perpendicular directions is described in detail. The applications of deep valleys analysis, power spectral density, and cross‐correlation functions for measured plateau‐honed cylinder surface topographies were studied. It was found that method based on the deep valleys study assured correct values of honing angle estimation. Procedure of sampling interval selection for this method application was developed. Usefulness of deep valleys analysis for obtaining parameters characterizing other features specific for cylinder liner surfaces is described. SCANNING 36:95–104, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reflection on the measurement and use of the topography of the indentation imprint
Authors: Marteau J. , Bigerelle M. , Bouvier S. , Iost A.
Published: June 2013

The goal of this paper is to study the main uses of the residual imprint of the indentation test. It also discusses the different technologies and methods employed in this context. The difficulties encountered when trying to exploit the full potentials of the imprint are thoroughly examined. A survey of the literature on the quantification of the pile‐up clearly shows that there is a lack of consensus on the measurement of the residual imprint as well as on treatment methods. Therefore, in order to widen the application fields of the indentation residual imprint, relevant and standardized indicators should be established. SCANNING 36:115–126, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Climate Change Adaptation and Water Policy: Lessons from Singapore
Authors: Bhullar Lovleen
Published: June 2013

Asian countries with large populations concentrated in coastal cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, such as sea level rise. This, in turn, can adversely affect water resources as a result of flooding, coastal erosion, water scarcity etc. Singapore has been hailed for its progressive water policies and practices, which were developed to overcome its natural resource disadvantage (limited resource base) and to achieve self‐sufficiency. Certainly, Singapore's geopolitical situation may have provided an atmosphere conducive to the development of progressive policies; however, it is worth exploring how Singapore is preparing for climate change adaptation, as this may allow other cities/countries to learn from Singapore's experience. The paper evaluates the contribution of Singapore's water policies and practices to climate change adaptation, and examines whether they can support the development of adaptation strategies in the water sector for other similarly situated cities in vulnerable countries. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
On model specification and selection of the Cox proportional hazards model
Authors: Lin Chen‐Yen , Halabi Susan
Published: June 2013

Prognosis plays a pivotal role in patient management and trial design. A useful prognostic model should correctly identify important risk factors and estimate their effects. In this article, we discuss several challenges in selecting prognostic factors and estimating their effects using the Cox proportional hazards model. Although a flexible semiparametric form, the Cox's model is not entirely exempt from model misspecification. To minimize possible misspecification, instead of imposing traditional linear assumption, flexible modeling techniques have been proposed to accommodate the nonlinear effect. We first review several existing nonparametric estimation and selection procedures and then present a numerical study to compare the performance between parametric and nonparametric procedures. We demonstrate the impact of model misspecification on variable selection and model prediction using a simulation study and an example from a phase III trial in prostate cancer. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Roll‐to‐Roll Cohesive, Coated, Flexible, High‐Efficiency Polymer Light‐Emitting Diodes Utilizing ITO‐Free Polymer Anodes
Authors: Shin Seongbeom , Yang Minyang , Guo L. Jay , Youn Hongseok
Published: June 2013

This paper reports solution‐processed, high‐efficiency polymer light‐emitting diodes fabricated by a new type of roll‐to‐roll coating method under ambient air conditions. A noble roll‐to‐roll cohesive coating system utilizes only natural gravity and the surface tension of the solution to flow out from the capillary to the surface of the substrate. Because this mechanism uses a minimally cohesive solution, the roll‐to‐roll cohesive coating can effectively realize an ultra‐thin film thickness for the electron injection layer. In addition, the roll‐to‐roll cohesive coating enables the fabrication of a thicker polymer anode film more than 250 nm at one time by modification of the surface energy and without wasting the solution. It is observed that the standard sheet resistance deviation of the polymer anode is only 2.32 Ω/□ over 50 000 bending cycles. The standard sheet resistance deviation of the polymer anode in the different bending angles (0 to 180°) is 0.313 Ω/□, but the case of the ITO‐PET is 104.93 Ω/□. The average surface roughness of the polymer anode measured by atomic force microscopy is only 1.06 nm. Because the surface of the polymer anode has a better quality, the leakage current of the polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) using the polymer anode is much lower than that using the ITO‐PET substrate. The luminous power efficiency of the two devices is 4.13 lm/W for the polymer anode and 3.21 lm/W for the ITO‐PET. Consequently, the PLEDs made by using the polymer anode exhibited 28% enhanced performance because the polymer anode represents not only a higher transparency than the ITO‐PET in the wavelength of 560 nm but also greatly reduced roughness. The optimized the maximum current efficiency and power efficiency of the device show around 6.1 cd/A and 5.1 lm/W, respectively, which is comparable to the case of using the ITO‐glass.
Highly Electrocatalytic Activity of RuO2 Nanocrystals for Triiodide Reduction in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Hou Yu , Chen Zu Peng , Wang Dong , Zhang Bo , Yang Shuang , Wang Hai Feng , Hu P. , Zhao Hui Jun , Yang Hua Gui
Published: June 2013

Dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSCs) are promising alternatives to conventional silicon devices because of their simple fabrication procedure, low cost, and high efficiency. Platinum is generally used as a superior counter electrode (CE) material, but the disadvantages such as high cost and low abundance greatly restrict the large‐scale application of DSCs. An efficient and sustainable way to overcome the limited supply of Pt is the development of high‐efficiency Pt‐free CE materials, which should possess both high electrical conductivity and superior electrocatalytic activity simultaneously. Herein, for the first time, a two‐step strategy to synthesize ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) nanocrystals is reported, and it is shown that RuO2 catalysts exhibit promising electrocatalytic activity towards triiodide reduction, which results in comparable energy conversion efficiency to that of conventional Pt CEs. More importantly, by virtue of first‐principles calculations, the catalytic mechanism of electrocatalysis for triiodide reduction on various CEs is investigated systematically and it is found that the electrochemical triiodide reduction reaction on RuO2 catalyst surfaces can be enhanced significantly, owing to the ideal combination of good electrocatalytic activity and high electrical conductivity.
Covalently Stabilized Pd Clusters in Microporous Polyphenylene: An Efficient Catalyst for Suzuki Reactions Under Aerobic Conditions
Authors: Song Qi , Jia Yuying , Luo Bin , He Haiyong , Zhi Linjie
Published: June 2013

A novel catalyst composed of a microporous polyphenylene network and covalently stabilized Pd clusters (Pd/MPP) for highly efficient Suzuki–Miyaura coupling is synthesized with an in‐situ one‐pot chemical approach, through the catalytic trimerization of 1,3,5‐triethynylbenzene. The unique Pd/MPP cluster exhibits very high catalytic activity for a broad scope of Suzuki–Miyaura reactions with short reaction time, good yield, and high turnover number and turnover frequency values, even in aqueous media under aerobic conditions. The strong covalent interaction between Pd and MPP network prevents the agglomeration or leaching of Pd clusters and enables the catalyst to remain highly active, even after a number of cycles.