bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Labeling as a Social Practice in Online Consumption Communities
Authors: Dinhopl Anja , Gretzel Ulrike , Whelan Andrew 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTThe present research explores how consumers use labeling in online consumption communities as a social practice. Through the analysis of conversations in an online consumption community of vegetarians, this paper presents a typology of strategies for using labels to serve specific functions. (1) Construction strategy: Consumers invent new practices under one label to account for the variety of practices associated with a label while benefiting from the awareness surrounding it. Its purpose is to accommodate and promote emerging practices. (2) Reconstruction strategy: Consumers use static definitions of a label that selectively exclude community members they do not perceive to be “true” to the label for policing and demarcating community boundaries. (3) Conversion strategy: Consumers maintain use of a label despite conflicts to promote group cohesion and unity. (4) Invalidation strategy: Consumers abandon a label, because it has lost meaning for the practice to which they adhere. This paper presents a theoretical framework for when, how, and why online consumption community members use labels to describe themselves, their consumption activity, and the community to which they belong. This also provides marketers with insights into when and how to use such community‐based labels to communicate with consumers.
Health Communities as Permissible Space: Supporting Negotiation to Balance Asymmetries
Authors: Keeling Debbie Isobel , Laing Angus , Newholm Terry 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTOnline communities provide promising opportunities to support patient–professional negotiations that address the asymmetries characterizing health services. This study addresses the lack of in‐depth understanding of these negotiations, what constitutes successful negotiation outcomes, and the potential impact of negotiation on offline health behaviors. Adopting a netnographic approach, two threads were observed from each of the four online health communities focusing on breast cancer, prostate cancer, depression, and diabetes, respectively. This analysis was supplemented with 45 in‐depth interviews. The evidence suggests that online health communities can be constructed as permissible spaces. Such virtual spaces facilitate the type of patient–professional negotiations that can redress asymmetries. The critical elements of the negotiation process are identified as occupation, validation, advocacy, and recording. These support patients and professionals as they debate and resolve conflicts in how they experience health. Direct tangible offline negotiation outcomes are reported (e.g., changes in treatment plans). Implications for professional–patient partnerships are also explored.
A multiscale coupling approach between discrete element method and finite difference method for dynamic analysis
Authors: Li Mingguang , Yu Haitao , Wang Jianhua , Xia Xiaohe , Chen Jinjian 
Published: January 2015

SummaryThe coupling between two distinct numerical methods presents a major challenge, especially in the case of discrete‐continuum coupling for dynamic simulations. This paper presents a general multiscale framework for coupling the discrete element method (DEM) and the finite difference method (FDM). DEM has been shown to be particular suitable for capturing physical phenomena at small length scales where continuum mechanics description no longer applies. Its efficiency, however, is limited because of the computational power required. A multidomain analysis coupling DEM and FDM is thus proposed to reduce the computational cost. To couple overlapping DEM and FDM, a bridging scale term is introduced such that compatibility of dynamic behavior between the DEM‐based and the FDM‐based models is enforced. This multiscale method couples two commercial packages: the DEM‐based code, particle flow code, and the FDM‐based code, fast lagrangian analysis of continua. The new method is applied to several reference dynamic tests. Results using the proposed method compare well with benchmark simulations from FDM and DEM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Computational structural and material stability analysis in finite electro‐elasto‐statics of electro‐active materials
Authors: Miehe C. , Vallicotti D. , Zäh D. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryDielectric materials like electro‐active polymers (EAPs) exhibit coupled electro‐mechanical behavior at large strains. They respond by a deformation to an applied electrical field and are used in advanced industrial environments as sensors and actuators, for example, in robotics, biomimetics and smart structures. In field‐activated or electronic EAPs, the electric activation is driven by Coulomb‐type electrostatic forces, resulting in Maxwell stresses. These materials are able to provide finite actuation strains, which can even be improved by optimizing their composite microstructure. However, EAPs suffer from different types of instabilities. This concernsglobal structural instabilities, such as buckling and wrinkling of EAP devices, as well aslocal material instabilities, such as limit‐points and bifurcation‐points in the constitutive response, which induce snap‐through and fine scale localization of local states. In this work, we outline variational‐based definitions for structural and material stability, and design algorithms for accompanying stability checks in typical finite element computations. The formulation starts from stability criteria for acanonical energy minimization principleof electro‐elasto‐statics, and then shifts them over to representations related to anenthalpy‐based saddle point principlethat is considered as the most convenient setting for numerical implementation. Here, global structural stability is analyzed based on aperturbation of the total electro‐mechanical energy, and related to statements of positive definiteness of incremental finite element tangent arrays. We base the local material stability on anincremental quasi‐convexity conditionof the electro‐mechanical energy, inducing the positive definiteness of both the incremental electro‐mechanical moduli as well as a generalized acoustic tensor. It is shown that the incremental arrays to be analyzed in the stability criteria appear within the enthalpy‐based setting in adistinct diagonal form, with pure mechanical and pure electrical partitions. Applications of accompanying stability analyses in finite element computations are demonstrated by means of representative model problems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extended finite element method coupled with face‐based strain smoothing technique for three‐dimensional fracture problems
Authors: Jiang Y. , Tay T. E. , Chen L. , Zhang Y. W. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryIn this work, the extended finite element method (XFEM) is for the first time coupled with face‐based strain‐smoothing technique to solve three‐dimensional fracture problems. This proposed method, which is called face‐based smoothed XFEM here, is expected to combine both the advantages of XFEM and strain‐smoothing technique. In XFEM, arbitrary crack geometry can be modeled and crack advance can be simulated without remeshing. Strain‐smoothing technique can eliminate the integration of singular term over the volume around the crack front, thanks to the transformation of volume integration into area integration. Special smoothing scheme is implemented in the crack front smoothing domain. Three examples are presented to test the accuracy, efficiency, and convergence rate of the face‐based smoothed XFEM. From the results, it is clear that smoothing technique can improve the performance of XFEM for three‐dimensional fracture problems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Successful Electronic Implementation of Discharge Referral Decision Support Has a Positive Impact on 30‐ and 60‐day Readmissions
Authors: Bowles Kathryn H. , Chittams Jesse , Heil Eric , Topaz Maxim , Rickard Kathy , Bhasker Mrinal , Tanzer Matt , Behta Maryam , Hanlon Alexandra L. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractIn a quasi‐experimental study, decision support software was installed in three hospitals to study the ability to scale (spread) its use from one hospital on paper to three hospitals as software, and to examine the effect on 30‐ and 60‐day readmissions. The Discharge Decision Support System (D2S2) software analyzes data collected by nurses on admission with a proprietary risk assessment tool, identifies patients in need of post‐acute care, and alerts discharge planners. On six intervention units, with a concurrent comparison group of 76 units, we examined the implementation experience and compared readmission outcomes before and after implementation. The software implementation finished one month ahead of schedule, and the software performed reliably. High‐risk patients admitted in the experimental phase after implementation of D2S2 decision support had significantly fewer 30‐day readmissions (a decrease from 22.2% to 9.4%). When high‐ and low‐risk patients were analyzed together, D2S2 achieved a 33% relative reduction in 30‐day readmissions (13.1 to 8.8%) and sustained a 37% relative reduction at 60 days. The software, available commercially through RightCare Solutions, was adopted by the health system and remains in use after 22 months. The D2S2 risk assessment tool can be installed easily in existing EHR systems. Future research will focus on how the tool influences discharge decision‐making and how its accuracy can be improved in specific settings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparable efficacy with varying dosages of glucarpidase in pediatric oncology patients
Authors: Scott Jeffrey R. , Zhou Yinmei , Cheng Cheng , Ward Deborah A. , Swanson Hope D. , Molinelli Alejandro R. , Stewart Clinton F. , Navid Fariba , Jeha Sima , Relling Mary V. , Crews Kristine R. 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundGlucarpidase rapidly reduces methotrexate plasma concentrations in patients experiencing methotrexate‐induced renal dysfunction. Debate exists regarding the role of glucarpidase in therapy given its high cost. The use of reduced‐dose glucarpidase has been reported, and may allow more institutions to supply this drug to their patients. This report explores the relationship between glucarpidase dosage and patient outcomes in pediatric oncology patients.MethodsThe authors evaluated data from 26 patients who received glucarpidase after high‐dose methotrexate. Decrease in plasma methotrexate concentrations and time to renal recovery were evaluated for an association with glucarpidase dosage, which ranged from 13 to 90 units/kg.ResultsNo significant relationship was found between glucarpidase dosage (units/kg) and percent decrease in methotrexate plasma concentrations measured by TDx (P > 0.1) or HPLC (P > 0.5). Patients who received glucarpidase dosages <50 units/kg had a median percent reduction in methotrexate plasma concentration of 99.4% (range, 98–100) measured by HPLC compared to a median percent reduction of 99.4% (range, 77.2–100) in patients who received ≥50 units/kg. Time to SCr recovery was not related to glucarpidase dosage (P > 0.8).ConclusionsThe efficacy of glucarpidase in the treatment of HDMTX‐induced kidney injury was not dosage‐dependent in this retrospective analysis of pediatric oncology patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1518–1522. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Beginning and duration of pregnancy in automated health care databases: review of estimation methods and validation results
Authors: Margulis Andrea V. , Palmsten Kristin , Andrade Susan E. , Charlton Rachel A. , Hardy Janet R. , Cooper William O. , Hernández‐Díaz Sonia 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPurposeTo describe methods reported in the literature to estimate the beginning or duration of pregnancy in automated health care data, and to present results of validation exercises where available.MethodsPapers reporting methods for determining the beginning or duration of pregnancy were identified based on Pubmed searches, by consulting investigators with expertise in the field and by reviewing conference abstracts and reference lists of relevant papers. From each paper or abstract, we extracted information to characterize the study population, data sources, and estimation algorithm. We then grouped these studies into categories reflecting their general methodological approach.ResultsMethods were classified into 5 categories: (i) methods that assign a uniform duration for all pregnancies, (ii) methods that assign pregnancy duration based on preterm‐delivery or health care related codes, or codes for other pregnancy outcomes, (iii) methods based on the timing of prenatal care, (iv) methods based on birth weight, and (v) methods that combine elements from 2 and 3. Validation studies evaluating these methods used varied approaches, with results generally reporting on the mistiming of the start of pregnancy, incorrect estimation of the duration of pregnancy, or misclassification of drug exposure during pregnancy or early pregnancy.ConclusionsIn the absence of accurate information on the beginning or duration of pregnancy, several methods of varying complexity are available to estimate them. Validation studies have been performed for many of them and can serve as a guide for method selection for a particular study. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors influencing quality decision‐making: regulatory and pharmaceutical industry perspectives
Authors: Donelan Ronan , Walker Stuart , Salek Sam 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPurposeCurrently, there is no qualified understanding of the influences, behaviours and other factors that impact the decision‐making of individuals and organisations involved in the development of new medicines. The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate and identify the important issues that influence quality decision‐making.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were carried out with 29 senior decision‐makers from the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory authorities. The study participants were invited to discuss and review their perception of decision‐making within their organisation, its role in drug development and the regulatory review and their awareness and use of decision‐making techniques and the impact and monitoring of decisions.ResultsThe analyses (using NVivo 8© software) resulted in the identification of 32 major and 97 sub‐themes that were consolidated into 19 overarching themes. These included items such as quality and validity of data, time considerations, organisational and cultural influences, analytical and logical approach, qualification and experience, subjective and personal considerations, political influences, precedents for similar previous decisions, understanding of the decision in question, impact analyses, audit trail, education and awareness, individual versus corporate decision‐making and frameworks. Relationships between themes were identified. The 19 overarching decision‐making themes were integrated into a framework for quality decision‐making.ConclusionThis study has achieved its aim of exploring decision‐making from the perspective of the individual and the organisation working in drug development and the regulatory review and has identified issues and considerations relating to making good quality decisions and allowed for the generation of a framework to aid quality decision‐making. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis and characterization of polylactides with different branched architectures
Authors: Nouri Sahar , Dubois Charles , Lafleur Pierre G. 
Published: January 2015

ABSTRACTStar‐shaped and comb‐like poly(L‐Lactide)s (PLA) are produced by employing multifunctional initiators, and hyperbranched structure is prepared using a cyclic co‐monomer with hydroxyl group. FTIR, size exclusion chromatography, and H‐NMR techniques are employed to characterize the synthesized polymers, validating the formation of desired structures with chain lengths above the critical length for entanglement. After characterization of the synthesized polymers, the effect of branching on PLA properties is investigated by comparing the crystallization and rheological behavior of branched PLAs to those of a linear commercial grade. Differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy observations reveal a remarkable improvement in PLA crystallization due to the nucleation role of branching points. Moreover, synthesized polylactides exhibit strain hardening behavior during elongational viscosity measurements by a sentmanat extension rheometer platform. Significant improvements in crystallization and elongational rheology behavior of the synthesized polymers support the achievement of branched polymer structures. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015, 53, 522–531
Nonspecific shielding of unfavorable electrostatic intramolecular interactions in the erythropoietin native‐state increase conformational stability and limit non‐native aggregation
Authors: Banks Douglas D. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPrevious equilibrium and kinetic folding studies of the glycoprotein erythropoietin indicate that sodium chloride increases the conformational stability of this therapeutically important cytokine, ostensibly by stabilizing the native‐state [Banks DD, (2011) The Effect of Glycosylation on the Folding Kinetics of Erythropoietin. J Mol Biol 412:536–550]. The focus of the current report is to determine the underlying cause of the salt dependent increase in erythropoietin conformational stability and to understand if it has any impact on aggregation, an instability that remains a challenge to the biotech industry in maintaining the efficacy and shelf‐life of protein therapeutics. Isothermal urea denaturation experiments conducted at numerous temperatures in the absence and presence of sodium chloride indicated that salt stabilizes erythropoietin primarily by increasing the difference in enthalpy between the native and unfolded sates. This result, and the finding that the salt induced increases in erythropoietin melting temperatures were independent of the identity of the salt cation and anion, indicates that salt likely increases the conformational stability of erythropoietin at neutral pH by nonspecific shielding of unfavorable electrostatic interaction(s) in the native‐state. The addition of salt (even low concentrations of the strong chaotrope salt guanidinium hydrochloride) also exponentially decreased the initial rate of soluble erythropoietin non‐native aggregation at 37 °C storage.
The prognostic value of reactive stroma on prostate needle biopsy: A population‐based study
Authors: Sæter Thorstein , Vlatkovic Ljiljana , Waaler Gudmund , Servoll Einar , Nesland Jahn M. , Axcrona Karol , Axcrona Ulrika 
Published: January 2015

BACKGROUNDReactive tumor stroma has been shown to play an active role in prostatic carcinogenesis. A grading system for reactive stroma in prostate cancer (PC) has recently been established and found to predict biochemical recurrence and prostate cancer‐specific mortality (PCSM) in prostatectomized patients. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no study investigating the prognostic value of reactive stromal grading (RSG) with regard to PCSM when evaluated in diagnostic prostate needle biopsies.METHODSA population‐based study on 318 patients, encompassing all cases of PC diagnosed by needle biopsies and without evidence of systemic metastasis at the time of diagnosis in Aust–Agder County in the period 1991–1999. Patients were identified by cross‐referencing the Cancer Registry of Norway. Clinical data were obtained by review of medical charts. The endpoint was PCSM. RSG was evaluated on haematoxylin and eosin stained sections according to previously described criteria; grade 0, 0–5% reactive stroma; grade 1, 6–15%; grade 2, 16–50%; grade 3, 51–100%.RESULTSRSG could be evaluated in 278 patients. The median follow‐ up time was 110 months (interquartile range: 51–171). The 10‐year PC ‐ specific survival rate for RSGs of 0, 1, 2, and 3 was 96%, 81%, 69%, and 63%, respectively (P < 0.005). RSG remained independently associated with PCSM in a multivariate Cox regression analysis adjusting for prostate–specific antigen level, clinical stage, Gleason score, and mode of treatment. The concordance index of the multivariate model was 0.814CONCLUSIONSOur study demonstrates that RSG in diagnostic prostate needle biopsies predicts PCSM independently of other evaluable prognostic factors. Hence, RSG could be used in addition to traditional prognostic factors for prognostication and treatment stratification of PC patients. Prostate 75: 662–671, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Large‐scale plant growth chamber design for elevated pCO2 and δ13C studies
Authors: Hagopian William M. , Schubert Brian A. , Jahren A. Hope 
Published: January 2015

RationaleThroughout at least the next century, CO2 fertilization and environmental stresses (e.g. nutrient, moisture, insect herbivory) are predicted to affect yields of economically important crop species. Stable isotopes of carbon are used to study plant stresses, which affect yields, but a growth chamber design that can be used to isolate the effects of environmental stresses on crop‐sized species through precise maintenance of pCO2 levels and the δ13C values of atmospheric CO2 (δ13CCO2) is lacking.MethodsWe designed and built low‐cost plant growth chambers for growing staple crop species under precise pCO2 and δ13CCO2 conditions. Over the course of 14 hours, we assessed for pCO2 stability at two targeted levels (ambient, ~400 ppm; and 2×, ~800 ppm) and measured the δ13CCO2 value within the two chambers using a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer. We also compared the temperature and relative humidity conditions within the two growth chambers, and in the ambient, outside air.ResultsAcross our experimental period, we achieved δ13CCO2 stability (ambient: –8.05 ± 0.17‰; elevated: –12.99 ± 0.29‰) that showed nearly half the variability of any previously reported values for other chamber designs. The stability of the pCO2 conditions (ambient: 406 ± 3 ppm; elevated: 793 ± 54 ppm) was comparable with that in previous studies, but our design provided ~8 times more growing space than previous chamber designs. We also measured nearly identical temperature and relative humidity conditions for the two chambers throughout the experiment.ConclusionsOur growth chamber design marks a significant improvement in our ability to test for plant stress across a range of future pCO2 scenarios. Through significant improvement in δ13CCO2 stability and increased chamber size, small changes in carbon isotope fractionation can be used to assess stress in crop species under specific environmental (temperature, relative humidity, pCO2) conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.