bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forecasting with Micro Panels: The Case of Health Care Costs
Authors: Fiebig Denzil G. , Johar Meliyanni 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMicro panels characterized by large numbers of individuals observed over a short time period provide a rich source of information, but as yet there is only limited experience in using such data for forecasting. Existing simulation evidence supports the use of a fixed‐effects approach when forecasting but it is not based on a truly micro panel set‐up. In this study, we exploit the linkage of a representative survey of more than 250,000 Australians aged 45 and over to 4 years of hospital, medical and pharmaceutical records. The availability of panel health cost data allows the use of predictors based on fixed‐effects estimates designed to guard against possible omitted variable biases associated with unobservable individual specific effects. We demonstrate the preference towards fixed‐effects‐based predictors is unlikely to hold in many practical situations, including our models of health care costs. Simulation evidence with a micro panel set‐up adds support and additional insights to the results obtained in the application. These results are supportive of the use of the ordinary least squares predictor in a wide range of circumstances. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Geochemical alteration of wellbore cement by CO2 or CO2 + H2S reaction during long‐term carbon storage
Authors: Um Wooyong , Rod Kenton A. , Jung Hun Bok , Brown Christopher F. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractCement samples were reacted with CO2‐saturated synthetic groundwater, with or without added H2S (1 wt.%), at 50°C and 10 MPa for up to 13 months (CO2 only) or for up to 3.5 months (CO2 + H2S) under static conditions. After the reaction, X‐ray computed tomography (XCT) images revealed that calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation occurred extensively within the fractures in the cement matrix, while micro‐fractures with aperture size <∼50 μm at the cement‐basalt interface were completely sealed by CaCO3 precipitation. Exposure of a fractured cement sample to CO2‐saturated groundwater (50°C and 10 MPa) over a period of 13 months demonstrated progressive healing of cement fractures by CaCO3 precipitation. After reaction with CO2 + H2S‐saturated groundwater, CaCO3 precipitation also occurred within the cement fracture as well as along the cement‐basalt caprock interfaces. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that major cement carbonation products of the CO2 + H2S‐saturated groundwater were calcite, aragonite, and vaterite, all consistent with cement carbonation by CO2‐saturated groundwater. While pyrite is thermodynamically favored to form, due to the low H2S concentration it was not identified by XRD in this study. The cement alteration rate into neat Portland cement samples by CO2‐saturated groundwater was similar at ∼0.02 mm/d based on XCT images, regardless of the cement‐curing pressure and temperature (P‐T) conditions, or the presence of H2S in the groundwater. The experimental results imply that wellbore cement with micro‐fractures within the cement matrix or along the cement‐caprock interface (<∼200 μm aperture under current experimental conditions) is likely to be healed by CaCO3 precipitation during exposure to CO2‐ or CO2 + H2S‐saturated groundwater. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA
Impact of p16 expression, nodal status, and smoking on oncologic outcomes of patients with head and neck unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Dixon Peter R. , Au Michael , Hosni Ali , Perez–Ordonez Bayardo , Weinreb Ilan , Xu Wei , Song Yuyao , Huang Shao Hui , O'Sullivan Brian , Goldstein David P. , de Almeida John R. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the context of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) of cancer of unknown primary (CUP) origin is unclear.MethodsPatients treated for CUP at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre between 2001 and 2013 were stratified by p16 status and retrospectively reviewed.ResultsOf the 73 patients included, those with p16‐positive tumors (63%) had less advanced nodal status (N1–N2b; 52% vs 89%; p = .035) and less aggressive treatment. Patients with p16‐positive tumors had improved 3‐year disease‐free survival (DFS; 79% vs 56%; p = .012) independent of nodal status and treatment in multivariable analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08–0.95).ConclusionAmong patients with CUP, p16‐positive status is an independent predictor of DFS but not overall survival (OS). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2016 © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1347–1353, 2016
The enhanced production of 11α‐hydroxyandrosta‐1,4‐diene‐3,17‐dione based on the application of organic silica hollow spheres in the biotransformation of β‐sitosterol
Authors: Rong Shaofeng , Wang Jingwen , Li Qianqian , Guan Shimin , Cai Baoguo , Zhang Shuo , Hu Jing 
Published: March 2016

AbstractBACKGROUND11α‐hydroxyandrosta‐1,4‐diene‐3,17‐dione (11α‐OH‐ADD) serves as an important steroid intermediate for many hormone pharmaceuticals. However, the poor aqueous solubility of the β‐sitosterol which is the substrate hinders its productivity efficiency. This paper reports a new method of biotransformation of β‐sitosterol to 11α‐OH‐ADD by mixed cultivation of Mycobacterium MF006 and Aspergillus ochraceus MF007 with organic silica hollow spheres (OSHS) to improve the dispersibility of the substrate based on its excellent adsorption property. The effect of co‐cultivation method and OSHS on the biotransformation were evaluated.RESULTSResults obtained by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the adsorption complexes were formed with β‐sitosterol and OSHS, which increased the opportunity for interaction between microorganisms and β‐sitosterol. Using adsorption complexes as substrates, the conversion efficiency increased to 87.11% and the yield of 11α‐OH‐ADD enhanced one and a half times through the synergy of these two microorganisms.CONCLUSIONThis study is the first to demonstrate that OSHS can increase the solubility of β‐sitosterol and the mixed cultivation of microorganisms is able to enhance production and shorten duration, which provides a new direction for enhancing the biotransformation efficiency of steroids. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Forces between different latex particles in aqueous electrolyte solutions measured with the colloidal probe technique
Authors: Ruiz‐Cabello F. Javier Montes , Moazzami‐Gudarzi Mohsen , Elzbieciak‐Wodka Magdalena , Maroni Plinio 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTIn this article, a compilation of results on direct force measurements between colloidal particles in monovalent salts carried out with the colloidal probe technique based on Atomic Force Microscopy was presented. The interaction forces between similar and dissimilar particles was studied and it was concluded that, in general, these force profiles may be satisfactorily quantified by the DLVO theory down to distances of few nanometers. However, in the specific case where the charge of one of the involved particle is close to neutral, it was found that the surface potential of this particle may change its sign depending on the sign of charge of the opposite particle. In this respect, the assumption that the surface potential of a particle is a property only related to the particle surface features and the bulk properties is called into question. Microsc. Res. Tech. 80:144–152, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neurotrophins and their Trk‐receptors in the cerebellum of zebrafish
Authors: Gatta Claudia , Altamura Gennaro , Avallone Luigi , Castaldo Luciana , Corteggio Annunziata , D'Angelo Livia , de Girolamo Paolo , Lucini Carla 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTNeurotrophins (NTs) and their specific Trk‐receptors are key molecules involved in the regulation of survival, proliferation, and differentiation of central nervous system during development and adulthood in vertebrates. In the present survey, we studied the expression and localization of neurotrophins and their Trk‐receptors in the cerebellum of teleost fish Danio rerio (zebrafish). Teleostean cerebellum is composed of a valvula, body and vestibulolateral lobe. Valvula and body show the same three‐layer structure as cerebellar cortex in mammals. The expression of NTs and Trk‐receptors in the whole brain of zebrafish has been studied by Western blotting analysis. By immunohistochemistry, the localization of NTs has been observed mainly in Purkinje cells; TrkA and TrkB‐receptors in cells and fibers of granular and molecular layers. TrkC was faintly detected. The occurrence of NTs and Trk‐receptors suggests that they could have a synergistic action in the cerebellum of zebrafish. J. Morphol. 277:725–736, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antibacterial activity of a new broad‐spectrum antibiotic covalently bound to titanium surfaces
Authors: Gerits Evelien , Kucharíková Soňa , Van Dijck Patrick , Erdtmann Martin , Krona Annika , Lövenklev Maria , Fröhlich Mirjam , Dovgan Barbara , Impellizzeri Frédéric , Braem Annabel , Vleugels Jef , Robijns Stijn C. A. , Steenackers Hans P. , Vanderleyden Jozef , De Brucker Katrijn , Thevissen Karin , Cammue Bruno P. A. , Fauvart Maarten , Verstraeten Natalie , Michiels Jan 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTBiofilm‐associated infections, particularly those caused by Staphylococcus aureus, are a major cause of implant failure. Covalent coupling of broad‐spectrum antimicrobials to implants is a promising approach to reduce the risk of infections. In this study, we developed titanium substrates on which the recently discovered antibacterial agent SPI031, a N‐alkylated 3, 6‐dihalogenocarbazol 1‐(sec‐butylamino)‐3‐(3,6‐dichloro‐9H‐carbazol‐9‐yl)propan‐2‐ol, was covalently linked (SPI031‐Ti). We found that SPI031‐Ti substrates prevent biofilm formation of S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro, as quantified by plate counting and fluorescence microscopy. To test the effectiveness of SPI031‐Ti substrates in vivo, we used an adapted in vivo biomaterial‐associated infection model in mice in which SPI031‐Ti substrates were implanted subcutaneously and subsequently inoculated with S. aureus. Using this model, we found a significant reduction in biofilm formation (up to 98%) on SPI031‐Ti substrates compared to control substrates. Finally, we demonstrated that the functionalization of the titanium surfaces with SPI031 did not influence the adhesion and proliferation of human cells important for osseointegration and bone repair. In conclusion, these data demonstrate the clinical potential of SPI031 to be used as an antibacterial coating for implants, thereby reducing the incidence of implant‐associated infections. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:2191–2198, 2016.
Effects of Land Use on Microbial Indices in Tantalite Mine Soils, Western Rwanda
Authors: Neina Dora , Buerkert Andreas , Joergensen Rainer Georg 
Published: March 2016

AbstractRare metal mining in western Rwanda created massive degraded mine wastelands. Some of them were restored by afforestation with pine and eucalyptus forests while others have been cultivated alongside arable lands, owing to limited land availability. We assessed the effects of these land uses on microbial biomass and activity (basal C and net N mineralization) in a laboratory experiment with fresh soils (0–20 cm) of an unmined native forest, two tantalite mine soils (Technosols) afforested with pine and eucalyptus forests, an arable soil, and two cultivated Technosols. Afforestation increased soil organic C (SOC) and total N in pine and eucalyptus Technosols, reaching 34–40% and 28–30%, respectively, of that in the native forest. The tree species differed significantly in microbial activity and biomass, exhibiting a trajectory towards recovery depicted in lower metabolic quotient. Basal respiration of pine Technosol and native forest soil were similar, while that of eucalyptus Technosol was 11 and 14% less compared to its forest counterparts. Conversely, net N mineralization in pine and eucalyptus Technosols were 40 and 65% of that in native forest soil, respectively. Soil microbial biomass C in pine and eucalyptus Technosols were 33 and 48% of that in native forest soil. Furthermore, a decreased SOC availability to soil microorganisms at low soil pH promoted fungal ergosterol as an indicator for saprotrophic fungi. The arable soil and cultivated Technosols did not differ significantly in SOC, N, microbial biomass, and activity. The soil biological quality was constrained by soil acidity, dithionite‐extractable Al, and low P availability. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The carbon turnover response to thermal stress of a dominant coralline alga on the fast warming Levant coast
Authors: Guy‐Haim Tamar , Silverman Jacob , Raddatz Stefanie , Wahl Martin , Israel Alvaro , Rilov Gil 
Published: March 2016

AbstractMarine organisms in the Mediterranean Sea experience the highest temperatures, salinities and oligotrophic conditions in its easternmost part along the eastern shores of the Levantine basin. Over the past three decades this region has warmed by ca. 1.5–3.0°C with current winter and summer extremums of 17°C and 31°C, respectively. In this study, we tested the response of the native abundant articulated coralline red alga Ellisolandia elongata to this warming. Coralline algae play a key role in coastal ecosystems by structuring marine habitats, providing shelter for a myriad of species, and substantially influencing the coastal carbon budget. Despite being ubiquitous along the Levantine coasts, coralline's ecology, physiology, and biogeochemical role are nearly unknown as well as their performance under different temperatures. Measurements of primary production, respiration and calcification in the temperatures range 15–35°C, which represent past, present and predicted local annual conditions, indicated two physiological tipping points: 1) metabolic breakdown above 31°C; 2) metabolic shift at 23°C, possibly promoting seasonal algal heterotrichy (perennation of the alga without its fronds). Annual production rates were evaluated under the current and predicted temperature regimes indicating a loss of ca. one third of the organic carbon and carbonate production by corallines contributed to the shallow Levantine coast in the upcoming decades. We predict that with continued warming, Eastern Mediterranean corallines will experience a westward range contraction, initiating with phenological shifts, followed by performance declines and population decreases, ending with local extinctions.
Automated, in situ measurements of dissolved CO2, CH4, and δ13C values using cavity enhanced laser absorption spectrometry: Comparing response times of air‐water equilibrators
Authors: Webb Jackie R. , Maher Damien T. , Santos Isaac R. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractCombining air‐water equilibrators with a field deployable cavity enhanced laser absorption spectrometer (CELAS) can generate precise, high resolution, measurements of dissolved CO2 and CH4 concentrations and δ13C values in aquatic systems. However, equilibration response times for combined measurements of CO2 and CH4 isotopologues have not been assessed. We performed laboratory step experiments on six different equilibrators to constrain CO2 and CH4 equilibration time constants (τ; high‐to‐low exponential decay constant). Three equilibrator types were then used in field‐based step experiments to determine τ for the individual isotopologues 12CO2, 13CO2, 12CH4, and 13CH4. In the laboratory experiments, τ ranged from 34–124 s for CO2 and 117–2041 s for CH4 among the six equilibrators. The ratio between response times of CO2 and CH4 was substantially lower in the membrane type equilibrators (τ‐CH4 ∼5 times > τ‐CO2) than in the showerhead and marble types (τ‐CH4 ∼15 times > τ‐CO2). Individual isotopologue time constants under a water flow rate of ∼5.5 L min−1 ranged from 33.7–43.1 s for 12CO2 and 13CO2, and 177–347 s for 12CH4, and 13CH4. The τ of CO2 isotopologues were within 1 s while τ of CH4 isotopologues were the same. Further investigations into water flow rate revealed an exponential decrease in equilibration time from 1.5 L min−1 to 9 L min−1 in a marble‐type equilibrator. The response time was always longer from high‐to‐low than low‐to‐high concentrations. By taking into consideration the equilibration response time, measurements of CO2, CH4, δ13C‐CO2, and δ13C‐CH4 can be resolved in near real‐time using appropriate water‐air equilibration devices.
Circularly polarized strips integrated microstrip antenna for energy harvesting applications
Authors: Vignesh S. B. , Nasimuddin  , Alphones A. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTA circularly polarized (CP) microstrip antenna with four strips is proposed for wide beamwidth and RF energy harvesting applications. Four strips along the diagonal directions are integrated symmetrically onto a square patch radiator for CP radiation with wide beamwidth. To improve the impedance matching of the antenna, a stub is integrated along the orthogonal direction of the patch radiator. The antenna is designed on FR4 substrate and an antenna prototype shows a measured 10‐dB return loss bandwidth of 120 MHz (2.53–2.65 GHz) with a maximum gain of 4.6 dBic. The measured 3‐dB axial ratio (AR) bandwidth is 65 MHz (2.540–2.605 GHz) with a 3‐dB AR beamwidth of around 180° across the band. Overall antenna volume is 0.475λo× 0.475λo × 0.013λo at 2.5 GHz. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1044–1049, 2016
Dual‐band and dual‐circularly polarized microstrip antenna with low elevation gain improvement for CNSS applications
Authors: Yang Xiaojie , Yuan Jiade 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTA dual band and dual circularly polarized (CP) microstrip antenna with low elevation gain improvement for China's Compass Navigation Satellite System (CNSS) is proposed in this letter. The nested structure patches fed by capacitive‐coupled discs to achieve the dual band performance. The dual CP performance is obtained by adopting a 3dB hybrid coupler. The key design is four copper sheets which are set up to improve the low elevation gain. Details of the proposed antenna design and results are presented and discussed. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1016–1022, 2016
Alumina ceramic slot antenna for UHF RFID tag embedded in vehicles
Authors: Deng Li , Hong Weijun , Feng Botao , Li Shufang , Zhu Jianfeng , Biao Peng 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTTo address the metallic interference problem in vehicular RFID (radio‐frequency identification) applications, this letter proposes a novel alumina ceramic slot tag antenna (ACSTA). The proposed antenna consists of a grounded thin alumina ceramic substrate and a slotted top layer rectangular patch, and the all four sides of the substrate are shorting walls. The slot can be equivalent to a horizontal magnetic current flow, so an excellent radiation performance is achieved according to the electromagnetic image theory. Meanwhile, due to the existence of the ground plane, the influences of metallic objects behind the ground to the tag antenna impedance can be maximally reduced. Combined with a commercial chip, this ACSTA is fabricated and measured, and the thickness of the novel tag is only 1mm. The tag antenna offers a half power coefficient bandwidth of 6.9% (0.87–0.93 GHz) with a stable gain about 3.6 dBi, and a similar half power coefficient bandwidth of 6.9% (0.89–0.95 GHz) with a gain about 4.8 dBi when it is attached to an 100 × 100 mm2 metallic plate, respectively. Moreover, the experimental results show that the maximum read range is about 27 or 30 m without or with a same attached 100 × 100 mm2 metallic plate, respectively. Simulation and measurement results show that the operating frequency band of the ACSTA covers US legal UHF RFID (902—928 MHz) band, and so it is a quite suitable candidate for vehicular RFID applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1150–1154, 2016
Low‐profile dipole antenna with parasitic elements for WBAN applications
Authors: Kang Do‐Gu , Tak Jinpil , Choi Jaehoon 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTIn this letter, a low‐profile dipole antenna with parasitic elements for WBAN applications is proposed. The antenna consists of a dipole radiator, two parasitic elements, and a ground with a slot. The resonance created by the two parasitic elements along with the basic resonance of the dipole radiator, provides dual resonances covering the 5.8 GHz ISM band. By adding the slot in the ground plane, the impedance matching is improved and the resonance frequency is lowered. The antenna has enhanced radiation along the near phantom surface in the 5.8 GHz ISM band due to the parasitic elements. The proposed antenna is placed on a human equivalent flat phantom in order to analyze the performance of the antenna on a human body. Regardless of the existence of the phantom, the antenna stably operates in the 5.8 GHz ISM band. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1093–1097, 2016
Quasi quarter SIW‐mode resonator and its application to sierpinski fractal filter design
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Fu Xue‐Dong , Wang Ting , Liu Fa‐Lin , Wang Hai‐Ting , Liu Hai 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTIn this letter, a new kind of quasi quarter SIW resonator (QQSIWR) using Sierpinski fractal defected structure is presented first. Comparing with SIW resonator, this novel resonator has lower resonant frequency (f0) and acceptable unloaded quality (Qu) value, while maintaining almost unchanged electromagnetic fields distributions. The frequency characteristics and Qu of this resonator is investigated under different fractal sizes. To validate the properties of QQSIWR, a miniature cross‐coupled bandpass filter (BPF) with a size reduction over 88% is proposed and optimized using Sierpinski fractal structure and cross coupling technology. It can produce asymmetrical frequency response by generating a transmission zero (TZ) on the high side of passband. A prototype of the filter is fabricated and measured, and the measured results are in good agreement well with the simulated ones. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1176–1179, 2016
Hexa band mimo antenna with neutralization line for LTE mobile device application
Authors: Huey Shin Wong , Kibria Salehin , Tariqul Islam Mohammad 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTA hexa band MIMO antenna configured by two identical folded monopole antennas is proposed. The folded monopole antennas are connected by neutralization line. This antenna covers LTE 700, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, LTE 2300, LTE 2500 and 2.4 GHz WLAN applications. Good isolation characteristics and low envelope correlation coefficient is obtained. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1198–1204, 2016
Dual‐polarized double‐sided printed dipole and annular ring for WLAN application
Authors: Khosronejad Misagh , Kaboli Mohsen , Gentili Gian G. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTThis article presents the design of a dual‐layer dual polarized wideband microstrip dipole—annular ring antenna. The antenna uses on one layer the strip dipole for vertical polarization and the annular ring for horizontal polarization and vice versa on the other layer. Each arm of both the dipole and the annular ring is printed on opposite sides of two separate dielectric substrates. To improve the bandwidth and gain characteristics of the strip dipole in the lower layer, a parasitic patch is used in the upper layer of the structure. The numerical and experimental results of the proposed antenna show that the measured −10 dB impedance bandwidth is 25% (4.6–5.9 GHz) and 39% (4.4–6.5 GHz) at port 1 and port 2, respectively, with application in 5.2/5.8GHz WLAN. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1260–1263, 2016