bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Helical and Static-port Tomotherapy Using the Newly-developed Dynamic Jaws Technology for Lung Cancer
Authors: Manabe Yoshihiko , Shibamoto Yuta , Sugie Chikao , Hayashi Akihiro , Murai Taro , Yanagi Takeshi
Published: June 2014

With the newly developed dynamic jaws technology, radiation dose for the cranio-caudal edges of a target can be lowered in the treatment with tomotherapy. We compared dynamic-jaw- and fixed-jaw-mode plans for lung cancer. In 35 patients, four plans using the 2.5-cm dynamic-, 2.5-cm fixed-, 5.0-cm dynamic-, and 5.0-cm fixed-jaw modes were generated. For 10 patients with upper lobe stage I lung cancer, the helical tomotherapy mode was used. Fifty-six Gy in 8 fractions was prescribed as a minimum coverage dose for 95% of the target (D95%). For 25 patients with locally advanced lung cancer, plans using four static ports (TomoDirect® mode) were made. Sixty Gy in 30 daily fractions for the primary tumor and swollen lymph nodes and 51 Gy in 30 fractions for prophylactic lymph node areas were prescribed as median doses. The mean conformity index of the planning target volume were similar among the four plans. The mean V5 Gy of the lung for 2.5-cm dynamic-, 2.5-cm fixed-, 5.0-cm dynamic-, and 5.0-cm fixed-jaw mode plans were 18.5%, 21.8%, 20.1%, and 29.4%, respectively ( p < 0.0001), for patients with stage I lung cancer, and 37.3%, 38.7%, 40.4%, and 44.0%, respectively ( p < 0.0001), for patients with locally advanced lung cancer. The mean V5 Gy of the whole body was 1,826, 2,143, 1,983, and 2,939 ml, respectively ( p < 0.0001), for patients with stage I lung cancer and 4,849, 5,197, 5,220, and 6,154 ml, respectively ( p < 0.0001), for patients with locally advanced lung cancer. Treatment time was reduced by 21-39% in 5.0-cm dynamic-jaw plans compared to 2.5-cm plans. Regarding dose distribution, 2.5-cm dynamic-jaw plans were the best, and 5.0-cm dynamic-jaw plans were comparable to 2.5-cm fixed-jaw plans with shorter treatment times. The dynamic-jaw mode should be used instead of the conventional fixed-jaw mode in tomotherapy for lung cancer.
Advancing measurements of tropospheric NO2 from space: New algorithm and first global results from OMPS
Authors: Yang Kai , Carn Simon A. , Ge Cui , Wang Jun , Dickerson Russell R.
Published: June 2014

We present a new algorithm based on the iterative spectral fitting technique for direct retrieval of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) vertical columns from hyperspectral satellite measurements, and a new spatial technique for separating the stratospheric and tropospheric contributions to the total NO2 vertical columns. This direct vertical column fitting (DVCF) algorithm allows more complete treatment of underlying algorithm physics compared to the differential optical absorption spectroscopy technique and enables more accurate accounting for the effects of spectral and altitude variations in NO2 measurement sensitivities. This DVCF algorithm and the stratosphere‐troposphere separation scheme are applied to ultraviolet measurements from the Nadir Mapper of the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) on the Suomi National Polar‐orbiting Partnership spacecraft. The first results demonstrate the potential of OMPS for sensitive global monitoring of tropospheric NO2. Comparisons show good agreement with Aura Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) tropospheric NO2 data and that OMPS data have sufficient quality to continue and extend OMI NO2 data records.
Injection Drug Users, Aboriginality, and HIV: A Postcolonial Glance From a Strong Ally
Authors: Egan John P.
Published: June 2014

This chapter describes the intersection of colonization, disease, and community engagement, including the author's support for Aboriginal community‐based HIV research.
African American Women and HIV/AIDS
Authors: Baumgartner Lisa M.
Published: June 2014

This chapter examines the challenges faced by African American women living with HIV/AIDS and how they learn to live with this chronic illness.
Competing risks analysis on traffic accident duration time
Authors: Li Ruimin , Guo Min
Published: June 2014

Different clearance methods in traffic accident management lead to varied duration distributions. Apart from investigating the influence of various factors associated with accidents on the duration of such accidents using different clearance methods, this study also examines the cumulative incidence probability. We used traffic accident data obtained for 12 months from the Fourth Ring Expressway main line in Beijing to develop a subdistribution hazard regression model, which can assess the risk factors of two clearance methods. The regression results show that the different factors have statistically significant effects on the duration of two accident groups with different clearance methods; furthermore, opposite effects occur even for some factors that have a strong effect on both accident groups. For example, an accident involving a taxi extends the duration time with clearance method 1; in comparison, the accident is shorter with clearance method 2. The predicted cumulative incidence curves of the two types of clearance methods are shown as examples, with stratification based on the influence factors (taxi involved, season). Finally, the Gray test of the cumulative incidence functions and the log‐rank test of the Kaplan–Meier estimates of the survival functions are compared, in order to demonstrate the importance of using proper methods for analyses. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stability of luminescence in LaPO4, LaPO4:RE3+ (RE = Dy, Eu) nanophosphors
Authors: Pimpalshende D. M. , Dhoble S. J.
Published: June 2014

The property of high refractive index, low solubility in water as well as stability to high temperature variation of lanthanum phosphate (LaPO4) proved it was the most effective candidate for the production of display lamps, and plasma display panel devices and sensors. The morphological and nanostructural characteristics play a key role in the working efficiency of the luminescent material. These properties can be controlled by the synthesis method, which we have adopted in this paper. We have prepared LaPO4 nanoparticles at a relatively low temperature (110 ºC) in polyethylene glycol medium by using a wet chemical one‐step synthesis. The phase composition and structural properties of the sample have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy and the luminescent property by photoluminescence and thermoluminescence. The samples were well crystallized and the average crystallite size of 15 nm has been calculated for pure LaPO4 using the Debye–Scherrer equation. The result from heat‐treated samples shows the phase combination and morphological structure of the powder depend on the annealing temperature. The heat treatment changes the structure of LaPO4 from cuboid rods to fine grains at about 600 °C. The emission spectrum of LaPO4 shows the broad emission band at 368 nm and shoulder at 465 nm with emission of blue color when monitored at an excitation wavelength at 256 nm. The stability of phosphor has been studied with respect to humidity, temperature, doping, doping concentration, γ‐ray exposures, etc. The prepared nanosized phosphors were thermally stable and may be a promising blue phosphor for lighting technology as well as radiation dosimetry. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introduction: International information issues and ASIS&T
Authors: Alemneh Daniel Gelaw , Rorissa Abebe
Published: June 2014

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

Since 1937 ASIS&T has promoted sharing within the information science community, a goal made more critical in an expanded, globalized environment. The Association's increasingly international reach stimulates discussion of global issues and challenges, lays a foundation for future growth and has prompted the development of Special Interest Group/International Information Issues (SIG/III). SIG/III has been active in member recruitment internationally and organizes the International Paper Contest to stimulate research and sharing at a global level. Devoted to international issues, this special section features interviews with SIG cofounders and leaders in information science, a discussion of ASIS&T chapters and SIGs and their role in strengthening the Association, virtual networking activities and past and current organizational initiatives. Massively open online courses (MOOCs) that aid the globalization of education, indigenous perspectives that expand our thinking and the pervasiveness of information policy elements all reinforce the international relevance of the field and the Association.
Strengthening ASIS&T's chapters by enhancing communication between chapters and with SIGs
Authors: Agarwal Naresh
Published: June 2014

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

While the ASIS&T Annual Meeting is as excellent opportunity for information professionals to gather, the special interest groups (SIGs) and chapters support interaction year‐round. SIGs bring together members focusing on 21 areas of interest, while 20 chapters are organized by region, with 43 university‐based student chapters. Each group operates under a governance committee or assembly, works through the year to deliver stimulating educational programs, projects and services and to recruit and retain members, and submits annual reports on their efforts. A shared challenge rises from a tendency toward one‐way communication to members from the Association, chapters or SIGs, an obstacle that can be overcome through deeper use of the ASIS&T's rich web content for members and involvement in chapter and SIG leadership. A number of resources are available to group officers to support SIG and chapter initiatives and administration. Sharing best practices though reports, awards and virtual meetings strengthens all groups and the Association as a whole.
ASIS&T: The student perspective
Authors: Dumas Catherine , Rorissa Abebe
Published: June 2014

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

An engaged student membership is a key source of strength and vitality for a professional organization like ASIS&T. With 43 student chapters around the world, ASIS&T has a good foundation of student support; having an active chapter at each university with studies in information science would further strengthen the Association. An early 2014 survey elicited responses from 38 current or past students, 28 of whom had a local ASIS&T student chapter with 23 being members. Just over half had attended an ASIS&T Annual Meeting. Respondents noted the value of networking within the Association and special interest groups and the assistance available for career and research goals. They also observed drawbacks including the cost of Annual Meeting attendance and feeling lost at the large conference. Students are drawn by the opportunities for involvement and networking. Among the numerous suggestions offered to strengthen and enrich the student experience were leadership training, practical skill development and improved communications.
We've built it, but are they coming? International participation in ASIS&T online educational offerings
Authors: Abbas June M. , Pennington Diane Rasmussen
Published: June 2014

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

ASIS&T has offered 55 educational webinars on key topics in information science since 2010, originally prompted by the Webinar Task Force. The successor Online Education Task Force broadened the goal to promote online education and communication among the membership and was followed by the Web Presence Task Force, which aims to bolster the Association's online presence overall, starting with a website redesign. The ASIS&T website offers members the potential for professional development and networking, and online channels are being explored to enhance engagement for all members, especially international members and those unable to attend Annual Meetings. A spring 2014 survey revealed that, while 75 percent of site visitors were from the United States, a substantial number represented India, European nations and North/East Asian countries. Webinar registration is strong for international members and visitors. Based on these indicators, several recommendations are offered to drive ongoing education, international outreach and recruitment efforts.
Google, tear down this wall to exploratory search!
Authors: Cole Charles
Published: June 2014

EDITOR'S SUMMARY

While Google serves traditional search needs adequately, it provides no assistance with exploratory search, unable to help a searcher crystallize a search goal. Evolutionary psychology illustrates a gradually developing search for meaning, combining beliefs with discovered knowledge, to expand a perceptual‐cognitive system. Similarly the information searcher progressively opens his or her cognitive system upon interacting with unfamiliar stimuli. The interactions typically occur in a series, with each new discovery or set of search results being associated with prior knowledge and other information sources, modifying the information need and helping to refine the search goal. This exploratory process may be followed by a command search for evidence to back up a thesis, a phase that Google serves well. An interactive, assisted, exploratory search is proposed. It has been demonstrated in Astrolabe, a prototype virtual search environment, and could be incorporated into the Google search engine.
Surrogate and clinical outcomes following ischemic postconditioning during primary percutaneous coronary intervention of ST‐Segment elevation myocardial infarction: A meta‐analysis of 15 randomized trials
Authors: Khalili Houman , Patel Vishal G. , Mayo Helen G. , de Lemos James A. , Brilakis Emmanouil S. , Banerjee Subhash , Bavry Anthony A. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Kumbhani Dharam J.
Published: June 2014

Objectives

To conduct a meta‐analysis on surrogate and clinical outcomes with myocardial ischemic postconditioning (IPoC) following revascularization with primary percutaneous intervention (PPCI) for ST‐segment myocardial infarction (STEMI) compared with PPCI alone.

Background

Reperfusion injury remains an important problem following PPCI for STEMI. Trials of IPoC have mainly focused on cardiac biomarkers; the impact on clinical outcomes is unknown.

Methods

Clinical trials that randomized STEMI patients to IPoC as compared with conventional PPCI were included for analysis.

Results

A total of 15 randomized trials with 1,545 patients met our selection criteria (785 underwent IPoC + PPCI, 760 PPCI alone). Mean follow‐up for clinical outcomes was 4.7 months. The mean ischemic time was 225 min. ST‐segment resolution (Relative Risk [RR] = 0.98; 95% Confidence Intervals [CI] 0.85–1.13; P = 0.75) and infarct size (Weighted mean difference [WMD] = −2.53%, 95% CI −6.10 to 1.05; P = 0.17) were similar between the IPoC + PPCI vs. PPCI arms. Left ventricular ejection fraction at follow‐up was marginally higher in the IPoC (WMD = 4.15%, 95% CI 0.19–8.12%, P = 0.04). No differences were noted in any of the clinical outcomes studied, including mortality (RR = 1.52; 95% CI 0.77–2.99; P = 0.23), recurrent MI (RR = 3.04; 95% CI 0.74–12.54; P = 0.12); stent thrombosis (RR = 1.24, 95% CI 0.51–3.04; P = 0.83) or the composite MACE outcome (RR = 1.53; 95% CI 0.89–2.63; P = 0.13). Conclusions: IPoC following PPCI is not associated with improvements in surrogate or clinical outcomes at 5 months as compared with PPCI alone. Our findings indicate no role for IPoC in the routine management of patients with STEMI. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reporting an experience on design and implementation of e‐Health systems on Azure cloud
Authors: Lu Shilin , Ranjan Rajiv , Strazdins Peter
Published: June 2014

Electronic Health (e‐Health) technology has brought the world with significant transformation from traditional paper‐based medical practice to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)‐based systems for automatic management (storage, processing, and archiving) of information. Traditionally, e‐Health systems have been designed to operate within stovepipes on dedicated networks, physical computers, and locally managed software platforms that make it susceptible to many serious limitations including: (1) lack of on‐demand scalability during critical situations, (2) high administrative overheads and costs, and (3) inefficient resource utilization and energy consumption due to lack of automation. In this paper, we present an approach to migrate the ICT systems in the e‐Health sector from traditional in‐house Client/Server (C/S) architecture to the virtualized cloud computing environment. To this end, we developed two cloud‐based e‐Health applications (Medical Practice Management System and Telemedicine Practice System) for demonstrating how cloud services can be leveraged for developing and deploying such applications. The Windows Azure cloud computing platform is selected as an example public cloud platform for our study. We conducted several performance evaluation experiments to understand the QoS tradeoffs of our applications under variable workload on Azure. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of GHB in human hair by HPLC‐MS/MS: Development and validation of a method and application to a study group and three possible single exposure cases
Authors: Bertol Elisabetta , Mari Francesco , Vaiano Fabio , Romano Guido , Zaami Simona , Baglìo Giovanni , Busardò Francesco Paolo
Published: June 2014

Gamma‐hydroxybutyrate (GHB) over the last two decades has generated increased notoriety as a euphoric and disinhibiting drug of abuse in cases of drug‐related sexual assault and for this reason it is considered a ‘date rape’ drug.

The first aim of this paper was to develop and fully validate a method for the detection of GHB in human hair by high performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS) after liquid‐liquid extraction (LLE).

The second aim was the application of the method to hair samples of 30 GHB‐free users in order to determine the basal level. The results obtained showed no significant differences in endogenous concentrations (p = 0.556) between hair samples of the three groups (black, blonde, and dyed hair) and the age and sex of the subjects did not affect the endogenous levels. Another 12 healthy volunteers, with no previous history of GHB use, were selected and a single dose (25 mg/Kg) was orally administered to all of them and hair samples were collected before the administration of the single dose and other two samples were collected one month and two months later, respectively. The segmental analysis of the latter two samples allowed us to calculate two ratios: 4.45:1 (95% C.I. 3.52–5.63) and 3.35:1 (95% C.I. 2.14–5.18), respectively, which can be recommended as reasonable values for a positive identification of GHB intake.

Finally the method was applied to three real cases where a GHB single exposure probably occurred. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationship between Creeping Discharge along Aerial Insulated Cable and Duration of Wave Front of Inductive Lightning Surge
Authors: Nishi Toshiyuki , Hanaoka Ryoichi , Takata Shinzo
Published: June 2014

We report the results obtained on the developing characteristics of creeping discharges along the insulated cable surface under inductive lightning surge voltages with various durations of wave front. The aerial insulated cables, usually, are supported by the post insulator and the binding wire at the reinforced concrete pole. When a lightning strikes near by the aerial insulated cables, the overvoltage due to the inductive lightning surge invades to the central line of the cable. The creeping discharge can develop along the cable surface from the free end of the binding wire just after a flashover of the post insulator at the cable supporting point. This creeping discharge may give rise to the accidents such as a melting or snapping of the cable. An important subject to prevent these accidents is to clarify the characteristics of creeping discharge along the cable surface and the developing mechanism of discharges. In this study, the impulse voltages with various durations of wave front are applied to the central line of the wire as the inductive lightning surge. The length and aspect of positive and negative creeping discharges developing along the cable surface are measured using a still camera with an image intensifier, and the developing mechanisms of creeping discharges are discussed on the basis of the models which are proposed taking into account the obtained results.
Deliberative Dialogue and the Development of Democratic Dispositions
Authors: Harriger Katy J.
Published: June 2014

This chapter discusses how college students can develop democratic dispositions and a civic identity through learning how to engage in deliberative dialogue on public issues.
Shaking It Up: Deconstructing Self and Other in an International Classroom
Authors: Small Cathy A.
Published: June 2014

This chapter describes a pedagogy for enlisting international diversity on campus to “shake up” understanding of self and other in a half Asian/half American international classroom. Results from the practice are presented, along with suggestions for future adaptations in a range of settings.
A new method of snowmelt sampling for water stable isotopes
Authors: Penna D. , Ahmad M. , Birks S. J. , Bouchaou L. , Brenčič M. , Butt S. , Holko L. , Jeelani G. , Martínez D. E. , Melikadze G. , Shanley J. B. , Sokratov S. A. , Stadnyk T. , Sugimoto A. , Vreča P.
Published: June 2014

We modified a passive capillary sampler (PCS) to collect snowmelt water for isotopic analysis. Past applications of PCSs have been to sample soil water, but the novel aspect of this study was the placement of the PCSs at the ground‐snowpack interface to collect snowmelt. We deployed arrays of PCSs at 11 sites in ten partner countries on five continents representing a range of climate and snow cover worldwide. The PCS reliably collected snowmelt at all sites and caused negligible evaporative fractionation effects in the samples. PCS is low‐cost, easy to install, and collects a representative integrated snowmelt sample throughout the melt season or at the melt event scale. Unlike snow cores, the PCS collects the water that would actually infiltrate the soil; thus, its isotopic composition is appropriate to use for tracing snowmelt water through the hydrologic cycle. The purpose of this Briefing is to show the potential advantages of PCSs and recommend guidelines for constructing and installing them based on our preliminary results from two snowmelt seasons. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ASSESSMENT OF GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT USING MODFLOW AND BENEFIT–COST ANALYSIS
Authors: Bozic Mile , Nikolic Goran , Milosev Dejan , Rudic Zeljka , Tomovic Sreten
Published: June 2014

The objective of this paper is to present the application of systematic analyses to ascertain better groundwater management in agricultural and urban areas. The mentioned analyses encompass mathematical modelling (MODFLOW), and benefit–cost analysis. The Pancevacki Rit area is particularly suitable for these analyses, since it has a long history regarding excess water. The simulation model of Pancevacki Rit is used to develop an optimal drainage strategy for long‐term management. The existing canal network, with a density of 25 m ha−1 and 7 pumping stations with an installed capacity of 35.8 m3 s−1, are not sufficient to protect total area of 33 820 ha, mostly due to inefficient management. Initially the results of the mathematical model were used to select an acceptable drainage solution for the study area, with several stages distinguished (phases 1–5) and degrees of achieved protection. Introduction of economic evaluation (benefit–cost) made further differences between solutions, thus simplifying the choice. The most complex and effective solution involves a major total investment (€16 million), but minor unit investment costs (€ 400 ha−1) and the greatest benefit–cost ratio. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors determining pbsc mobilization efficiency and nonmobilization following ICE with or without rituximab (R‐ICE) salvage therapy for refractory or relapsed lymphoma prior to autologous transplantation
Authors: Xia Wei , Ma Chun Kei K , Reid Cassandra , Bai Lijun , Wong Kelly , Kerridge Ian , Ward Christopher , Greenwood Matthew
Published: June 2014

ICE/R‐ICE (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide without or with rituximab) chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation is an established regimen in refractory/relapsed lymphoma. Few studies have addressed which factors are important in determining peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization efficiency or nonmobilization following ICE/R‐ICE. Between 2004 and 2013, 88 patients with refractory/relapsed lymphoma who received ICE/R‐ICE salvage‐chemotherapy prior to granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF) stimulated PBSC mobilization at a single center were identified. Mobilization efficiency was assessed by time from ICE/R‐ICE to day of harvest, duration of G‐CSF use, days to peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ ≥15/µL, PB CD34+ number on harvest day, CD34+ yield and nonmobilization rate. Median PB CD34+ at harvest were 54/μL (7–524); median days to first apheresis was 15 (11–30); median harvested total CD34+ were 5.46 × 106/kg (0.96–44.36); 71 patients (80.7%) successfully mobilized; 20 (22.7%) patients were poor mobilizers; 14 (15.9%) patients were considered nonmobilizers with maximal PB CD34+ <7/µL and did not proceed to apheresis. Six of 20 poor mobilizers were apheresed with PB CD34+ 7–12/µL, 50% were successfully harvested. No differences were found between ICE and R‐ICE regimens. Impaired mobilization efficiency was associated with age, remission status, >1 line of induction chemotherapy, four cycles ICE/R‐ICE and grade 4 neutropenia. Prior bone marrow (BM) involvement was associated with nonmobilization. The majority of patients can be successfully mobilized with ICE/R‐ICE. Prior BM involvement is associated with high rates of nonmobilization following ICE/R‐ICE. Such patients may benefit from novel mobilization agents and/or alternative salvage regimens to ICE/R‐ICE. J. Clin. Apheresis 29:322–330 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Investigation of the Reaction between 3‐Benzisothiazolones, an Isoindole Isoster and Activated Acetylenes: Synthesis of Heterocyclic Backbones for Building Bioactive Molecules
Authors: Incerti Matteo , Vicini Paola
Published: June 2014

Investigation of the reaction between benzo[d]isothiazol‐3‐one, 2‐aminobenzo[d]isothiazol‐3‐one, its isoster 2‐aminoisoindolin‐1‐one, and activated acetylenes, in the presence of triphenylphosphine, led us to synthesize novel heterocyclic compounds that could be attractive for the building of biologically active molecules. A one‐pot PPh3‐promoted tandem reaction, with acetylene dicarboxylates and dibenzoylacetylene, afforded new tricyclic pyrazolo‐fused benzisothiazoles. The PPh3‐promoted reaction between benzisothiazolones and methyl propiolate afforded 1,4‐benzothiazepine‐5‐one derivatives, via an isothiazole ring expansion. These studies are providing additional insights in benzisothiazolone chemistry and describe simple and original synthetic accesses to novel derivatives.
Readmission penalties and health insurance expansions: A dispatch from Massachusetts
Authors: Chen Christopher , Scheffler Gabriel , Chandra Amitabh
Published: June 2014

BACKGROUND

Payers are penalizing hospitals for high readmission rates. It is unknown whether major changes in population insurance coverage can affect readmission rates, despite the Affordable Care Act's coverage expansions coming into effect this year.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of a large‐scale insurance expansion on hospital readmissions, using Massachusetts' 2006 health reform as a natural experiment.

DESIGN

Difference‐in‐difference time‐series design.

SETTING

All Massachusetts acute‐care hospitals.

PATIENTS

Inpatient visits from 2004 to 2010.

MEASUREMENTS

Primary outcome was the hospital 30‐day readmission rate. Readmissions to any Massachusetts hospital were tracked.

RESULTS

Decreases in uninsurance rates during and after reform were largely limited to the hospital quartile with the highest prereform uninsurance rates (from 14% uninsured at the start of the reform to 2.9% by the end of the study period). The other hospitals collectively experienced a smaller decline in their uninsured admissions (5.9% at the start of reform to 2.5% by the end of the study period). According to difference‐in‐difference regression analysis, the highest uninsured hospital quartile experienced a modest increase in their unadjusted readmission rate of 0.6 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 0.1%–1.1%) during the reform period as compared to the other hospital quartiles (P = 0.01). This represents a relative increase of 4.5% in the readmission rate. Risk‐adjusted readmission rates showed no corresponding change.

CONCLUSIONS

The Affordable Care Act's insurance expansion may be associated with an increase in unadjusted readmission rates among hospitals that cared for disproportionate numbers of uninsured patients. Risk‐adjustment appears to take this effect into account. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2014;9:681–687. © 2014 Society of Hospital Medicine
Inequality in Maternal Health Care Utilisation in India: A Shapley Decomposition Analysis
Authors: Pal Rama
Published: June 2014

The paper aims at decomposing income‐related inequality in maternal health care utilisation in India using the Shapley value method. In India, the usage of maternal health care services remains low with highly uneven access across socio‐economic groups. We analyse the income‐related inequality in maternal health care utilisation and its determinants. The decomposition results show that the demand side variables, namely, economic status of household and education of parents, are important factors determining inequality in utilisation. Also, we find that availability of government health care facilities in village and implementation of Janani Suraksha Yojana in village do not reduce income‐related inequality in utilisation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prior doctor shopping resulting from differential treatment correlates with differences in current patient‐provider relationships
Authors: Gudzune Kimberly A. , Bennett Wendy L. , Cooper Lisa A. , Clark Jeanne M. , Bleich Sara N.
Published: June 2014

Objective

To determine the prevalence of doctor shopping resulting from differential treatment and to examine associations between this shopping and current primary care relationships.

Methods

In 2012, a national internet‐based survey of 600 adults receiving primary care in the past year with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 was conducted. Our independent variable was “switching doctors because I felt treated differently because of my weight.” Logistic regression models to examine the association of prior doctor shopping with characteristics of current primary care relationships: duration, trust in primary care provider (PCP), and perceived PCP weight‐related judgment, adjusted for patient factors were used.

Results

Overall, 13% of adults with overweight/obesity reported previously doctor shopping resulting from differential treatment. Prior shoppers were more likely to report shorter durations of their current relationships [73% vs. 52%; p = 0.01] or perceive that their current PCP judged them because of their weight [74% vs. 11%; p < 0.01] than nonshoppers. No significant differences in reporting high trust in current PCPs were found.

Conclusions

A subset of patients with overweight/obesity doctor shop resulting from perceived differential treatment. These prior negative experiences have no association with trust in current relationships, but our results suggest that patients may remain sensitive to provider weight bias.
Eddy kinetic energy redistribution within windstorms Klaus and Friedhelm
Authors: Rivière G. , Arbogast P. , Joly A.
Published: June 2014

The formation of lower‐tropospheric wind speed maxima is analyzed during the mature stage of two distinct windstorms using ERA‐Interim reanalysis datasets and performing an eddy kinetic energy (EKE) budget. Both storms developed according to the Shapiro–Keyser conceptual model and crossed the large‐scale low‐frequency jet from its warm‐air towards its cold‐air side. The formation of strong wind regions are shown to depend on the position of the storms relative to the large‐scale jet axis, which confirm theoretical results of a companion study. As long as the storms are travelling south of the low‐frequency jet or close to the jet axis, the most intense EKE maxima as well as the total kinetic energy maxima are located in the warm sector of the surface cyclones on their southeastern side. As soon as the surface cyclones move to the north of the low‐frequency jet, EKE is cyclonically redistributed in the lower troposphere, first to the northnorthwest of the cyclone's centre, and then to the southwest along the bent‐back warm fronts. At this later stage, EKE, which is generated by baroclinic conversion in the mid‐troposphere, is redistributed downwards by the vertical ageostrophic geopotential fluxes before being further redistributed southwestwards in the lower troposphere by the ageostrophic geopotential fluxes. This EKE redistribution led to the formation of a low‐level westerly jet to the south of each cyclone centre behind the cold front. These common features between the two storms happened in spite of differences in their shape and environment.
Catalytic Activities of Au6, , and Clusters for CO oxidation: A density functional study
Authors: Baishya Subhi , Deka Ramesh C.
Published: June 2014

We have studied the CO oxidation over neutral, anionic, and cationic gold hexamer clusters using density functional theory which elucidates the effect of cluster charge state on the catalytic activity. Herein, we have considered the conventional bimolecular Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism with coadsorbed CO and O2 at the neighboring sites in all the clusters. Among the three clusters,
entails lower barriers during the various steps of the oxidation mechanism. The stability of all the species including the transition states with respect to the interacting species in
indicates no thermal activation. Our study suggests better catalytic activity of
as compared to the neutral and cationic counterparts. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An enhanced Kerberos protocol with non‐interactive zero‐knowledge proof
Authors: Zhu Yuesheng , Ma Limin , Zhang Jinjiang
Published: June 2014

As one of the most important trusted third‐party‐based authentication protocols, Kerberos is widely used to provide authentication service in distributed networks. However, it is vulnerable to common brute force password‐guessing attacks because of its password‐based mechanism. Some enhanced Kerberos protocols based on public key cryptography were proposed as solutions, but they require excessive computation and communication resources. In this paper, a new enhanced Kerberos protocol with non‐interactive zero‐knowledge proof is proposed, in which the clients and the authentication server can mutually authenticate each other without revealing any information during the authentication process. Our security analysis and experimental results have shown that the proposed scheme can resist password‐guessing attacks and is more convenient and efficient than previous schemes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Auger intensity anomalies from the Si(001)2 × 1 surface excited by the wave field of RHEED
Authors: Horio Yoshimi , Takakuwa Yuji , Ogawa Shuichi
Published: June 2014

The Auger intensity of Si‐LVV from the Si(001)2 × 1 surface has been measured at room temperature while changing the glancing angle of the incident electron beam of reflection high‐energy electron diffraction (RHEED). Such a beam‐rocking Auger electron spectroscopy (BRAES) profile shows intensity anomalies under surface wave resonance conditions. The surface structure of Si(001)2 × 1 has been analyzed by rocking curves of diffraction spots within the 0th Laue zone. Since RHEED intensities limited to the 0th Laue zone can be determined by the projected potential of Si atomic rows along the incident azimuth, the phase of asymmetric dimers with flip‐flop motion can be neglected. According to the Si(001)2 × 1 surface structure model which was confirmed by the rocking curve analysis, it was found that the calculated wave‐field intensity profile for Si atoms reveals similar intensity anomalies to those of the experimental BRAES profile. The background profile is also discussed in terms of the beam irradiation area and its transmissivity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metal‐assisted SIMS for three‐dimensional analysis using shave‐off section processing
Authors: Yamazaki Atsuko , Tobe Teruhiko , Akiba Shouta , Owari Masanori
Published: June 2014

Three‐dimensional microanalysis of the microstructure of organic materials is important in the development and progress of analytical methods on the micro‐to‐nanometer scales. We have developed a novel three‐dimensional microanalysis method using focused ion beams for section processing (shave‐off scanning) and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry for mapping. Shave‐off scanning can effectively create an arbitrary section on a sample set against composites materials with a wide variety of shapes; three‐dimensional sample images are then obtained by alternately operating two focused ion beams. In this study, we adapted metal‐assisted secondary ion mass spectrometry for three‐dimensional microanalysis. We have devised a unique method whereby gold is deposited on a section to be analyzed after every shave‐off sectioning by setting a gold plate at the back of the sample. Consequently, gold was observed to be deposited on the created cross‐section concurrently with shave‐off sectioning, resulting in a substantially enhanced secondary ion intensity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
College Is Not a Restaurant: Challenging Cultural Hegemony in the US Classroom
Authors: Kittler Juraj
Published: June 2014

In the post 9/11 world, a nonnative US teacher who attempts to challenge existing cultural assumptions may easily trigger hostility and suspicion in the classroom. This chapter conveys the experience of a college professor whose approach often deliberately crosses that line.
Rapport and Knowledge: Enhancing Foreign Instructor Credibility in the Classroom
Authors: Zhang Mei
Published: June 2014

This chapter discusses strategies to establish rapport and demonstrate knowledge in order to enhance instructor credibility and create a productive learning environment in the oral performance class.
Open and Positive Attitudes toward Teaching
Authors: Hsu Chia‐Fang (Sandy)
Published: June 2014

This chapter argues that the most important thing for a nonnative English‐speaking teacher is to have an open and positive attitude toward students. A teacher's willingness to work out problems with individual students, coupled with openness to students’ ideas and criticism, should help improve students’ negative attitudes toward the teacher, which, in turn, should result in better learning outcomes and teaching evaluations.
Opposite Worlds, Singular Mission: Teaching as an ITA
Authors: Mutua Consolata Nthemba
Published: June 2014

This chapter presents an autoethnography of an international graduate teaching assistant (ITA) at two universities (in a midsize state university in the eastern United States and a large public research university in the southwestern United States). Standpoint and muted group theories are utilized to discuss the experiences of being a female ITA from Africa.
Capturing the Experiences of International Teaching Assistants in the US American Classroom
Authors: Hebbani Aparna , Hendrix Katherine Grace
Published: June 2014

This chapter presents findings from a qualitative study which investigated the perceptions of twenty‐five ITAs toward US American undergraduates. The participant cohort comprised fourteen PhD and eleven master's students, of which, three were male and twenty‐two were female ITAs teaching oral communication or a communication course requiring at least two graded assignments. The responses gathered via an online survey were content analyzed using Leximancer, a text analytic software program. We found that the master's students reflected more about issues pertaining to their own public speaking and confidence, while the PhD students were more concerned with the preparation and presentation of the course material. In addition to discussing these findings, one coauthor of this study adds her reflexive voice to the experience of being a nonnative English speaker teaching American students.
Surface wind speed reconstruction from synoptic pressure fields: machine learning versus weather regimes classification techniques
Authors: Saavedra‐Moreno B. , de la Iglesia A. , Magdalena‐Saiz J. , Carro‐Calvo L. , Durán L. , Salcedo‐Sanz S.
Published: June 2014

This paper tackles a problem of surface wind speed reconstruction based on synoptic‐scale meteorological fields. Specifically, two different approaches are discussed and compared: a pure Machine Learning method, formed by a Support Vector Regression and a genetic algorithm that only considers synoptic pressure as input variable, and a Weather Regimes Classification Technique, based on a k‐means clustering of the main three principal components of the geopotential height field and a simple, but efficient, linear regression between the surface pressure gradient and the observed surface wind. Both algorithms are shown to be accurate enough for wind speed reconstruction at medium latitude regions, even when there are only a few years of observations. These methodologies can also be used for filling gaps in wind speed series and, with some modifications and further research, they could be used for wind speed forecasting. The algorithms proposed are fully described and compared in this paper, and their performance has been comparatively evaluated in several real problems of wind speed reconstruction at three sites (Cabauw (The Netherlands), Capel (Wales, UK) and Kaegnes (Denmark)), obtaining excellent results in terms of wind speed reconstruction with moderate complexity in data processing and algorithms. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inactivation of the phosphoglucomutase gene pgm in Paenibacillus polymyxa leads to overproduction of fusaricidin
Authors: Kim Ha-Rim , Park Soo-Young , Kim Seong-Bin , Jeong Haeyoung , Choi Soo-Keun , Park Seung-Hwan
Published: June 2014

Fusaricidin, a lipodepsipeptide isolated from Paenibacillus polymyxa, has high antimicrobial activity against fungi and Gram-positive bacteria. Through mutagenesis, we obtained two mutant strains, N1U7 and N17U7, which produce 6.2- to 7.9-fold more fusaricidin than their parent strain. Causal mutations were identified by whole-genome sequencing, and the two strains each contained at least eleven point mutations, including four common mutations. A mutation in the PPE04441 gene (pgm), encoding an α-phosphoglucomutase, was found to be an important factor in fusaricidin overproduction by complementation experiments. Null mutation of pgm in the parental strain increased fusaricidin production by 5.2-fold. Increased growth and cell viability in stationary phase, reduced exopolysaccharide production, and increased fusA expression were observed in the pgm mutant strains, which might be related to fusaricidin overproduction. This is the first report revealing that PGM deficiency leads to an overproduction of fusaricidin.
Comparison of bread wheat varieties with different breeding origin under organic and low input management
Authors: Mikó Péter , Löschenberger Franziska , Hiltbrunner Jürg , Aebi Rosalie , Megyeri Mária , Kovács Géza , Molnár-Láng Márta , Vida Gyula , Rakszegi Marianna
Published: June 2014

In recent years needs have increased to investigate the necessity of breeding cereals for organic agriculture. The aims of this study were (1) to compare 37 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties with different breeding origin under low input conventional and certified organic farming conditions in Austria and Hungary for 3 years, (2) to identify traits highly sensitive to management systems that could be separated according to their suggested selecting environments and (3) to find evidence for the distinctness of organic wheat breeding. According to the results, seven out of the 15 traits assessed during this study showed significant management × genotype interaction meaning that these traits could be the basis of selection for different management systems. Heading date, sensitivity to leaf rust and powdery mildew had high repeatabilities. For economic reasons, it is therefore reasonable to select for these traits in conventional fields even if the selection target is organic agriculture. However, the present study suggests that selection for the other four traits (grain yield, test weight, leaf-inclination and vigorous growth during booting) should be done later in the target environment. The study compared groups of varieties developed by different breeding strategies (organic, conventional and combined strategies). The results of multivariate analyses showed that the organic breeding was distinct from the other two breeding strategies, but the combined and conventional breeding resulted in similar groupings. It is concluded that the selecting environment has measurable effects on the performance of bread wheat varieties under organic and low input growing conditions.
Equilibrium and Dynamic Surface Properties of Sulfosuccinate Surfactants
Authors: Gao Yuyang , Yang Xiuquan
Published: June 2014

The equilibrium and dynamic surface tension of three sulfosuccinate surfactants at the air/aqueous solution interface were investigated. Wilhelmy plate method was used to determine critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the equilibrium surface tension (γeq). The dynamic surface tensions in the range 10–100 s were measured by maximum bubble pressure method. The well‐known Ward–Tordai equation was employed to analyze the adsorption of the sulfosuccinate surfactants. The parameters and effective diffusion coefficients (Deff) of dynamic surface tension have been calculated and analyzed. The equilibrium surface tension results showed that disodium laureth (3) sulfosuccinate (AEO3‐SS), disodium laureth (6) sulfosuccinate (AEO6‐SS) and disodium alkyl ethoxy glucoside sulfosuccinate (AEG‐SS) are surfactants possessing strong surface activity, adsorbing to the interface rapidly and their γeq values were in the range 25–32 mN/m. CMC of the three surfactants increases with the number of hydrophilic groups and AEO3‐SS has the lowest CMC. According to the values of some dynamic surface tension parameters, AEG‐SS is the most hydrophilic surfactant of them and AEO3‐SS is energetically more favorable to adsorb to the interface than the others. According to Ward–Tordai equation, the Deff values were calculated, the adsorption mechanism was diffusion controlled at short times and toward the end good evidence was found for an activated‐diffusion mechanism with an energy barrier.
Bäckerhefe Saccharomyces cerevisiae als universelle chemische Mikrofabrik
Authors: Heim Jutta , Tange Thomas Østergaard , Klein Jens
Published: June 2014

One of the applications of the emerging synthetic biology field is the enzymatic production of chemicals, either by individual enzymes or by cascades of whole metabolic pathways. Here, the discovery of novel metabolites from baker’s yeast transformed with yeast artificial chromosomes is described. One particular class of compounds found repeatedly are structurally diverse novel polyketides obtained by expression of mixes of PKSIII (polyketide synthase type III).
Experimental advances in superlubricity
Authors: Zheng Quanshui , Liu Ze
Published: June 2014

Superlubricity, or structural lubricity, is a state that has two contacting surfaces exhibiting no resistance to sliding. This effect has been theoretically described to be possible between two completely clean single crystalline solid surfaces. However, experimental observations of superlubricity were limited to nanoscale and under high vacuum or inert gas environments even after twenty years since the concept of superlubricity has been suggested in 1990. In the last two years, remarkable advances have been achieved in experimental observations of superlubricity ranging from micro-scale to centimeters and in ambient environment. This study aims to report a comprehensive understanding of the superlubricity phenomenon.