bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Iron Cage and the Gaze: Interpreting Medical Control in the English Health System
Authors: Exworthy Mark 
Published: May 2015

This paper seeks to determine the value of theoretical ideal-types of medical control. Whilst ideal types (such as the iron cage and gaze) need revision in their application to medical settings, they remain useful in describing and explaining patterns of control and autonomy in the medical profession. The apparent transition from the cage to the gaze has often been over-stated since both types are found in many contemporary health reforms. Indeed, forms of neo-bureaucracy have emerged alongside surveillance of the gaze. These types are contextualised and elaborated in terms of two empirical examples: the management of medical performance and financial incentives for senior hospital doctors in England. Findings point towards the reformulation of medical control, an on-going re-stratification of the medical profession, and the internalisation of managerial discourses. The cumulative effect involves the medical profession’s ability to re-cast and enhance its position (vis-à-vis managerial interests).
Keywords: medical profession, medical control, iron cage, gaze
Evidence for reduced export productivity following the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction
Authors: Esmeray‐Senlet Selen , Wright James D. , Olsson Richard K. , Miller Kenneth G. , Browning James V. , Quan Tracy M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) mass extinction was associated with a collapse in the carbon isotopic (δ13C) gradient between planktonic and benthic foraminifera and a decrease in bulk carbonate δ13C values. These perturbations have been explained by several hypotheses: global collapse of primary productivity (Strangelove Ocean), greatly reduced export but not primary productivity (Living Ocean), little or no reduction in export productivity (Resilient Ocean), and geographic heterogeneity in the change of export productivity (Heterogeneous Ocean). We tested primary versus export productivity changes in the paleoshelf of New Jersey, where δ13C values and organic carbon accumulation rates can distinguish among different ocean responses. On the shelf, the K/Pg boundary is associated with a ~2.5‰ δ13C decrease in bulk carbonate, a ~0.8‰ δ13C decrease in organic carbon, a collapse of the surface to bottom δ13C gradient, and a drop in organic carbon accumulation rates. We interpret an early Danian ~1.0‰ planktonic foraminiferal δ13C gradient, a ~0.75‰ cross‐shelf benthic foraminiferal δ13C gradient, and a drop in carbon accumulation rates to reflect the presence of active primary but limited export productivity, consistent with the Living Ocean hypothesis. We evaluated interbasinal deep‐sea benthic foraminiferal δ13C gradients between the Pacific (Site 1210) and Atlantic (Site 1262) oceans as a proxy for changes in export productivity. The interbasinal δ13C gradient was reduced after the mass extinction, suggesting a reduction in global export productivity. Although our data support the Living Ocean hypothesis, evidence from paleoupwelling zones shows significant export productivity, indicating spatial heterogeneity in the wake of the K/Pg mass extinction (Heterogeneous Ocean).
Evidence for sea level and monsoonally driven variations in terrigenous input to the northern East China Sea during the last 24.3 ka
Authors: Chang Fengming , Li Tiegang , Xiong Zhifang , Xu Zhaokai 
Published: May 2015

AbstractGeochemical and sedimentological analyses of core PC‐1 recovered from the northern East China Sea (ECS) provide insights into variations in terrigenous input associated with sea level and climate changes over the past 24.3 ka. Based on high‐resolution multiproxy records, our results suggest that the competing processes of sea level and monsoonally driven precipitation determined terrigenous input to the northern ECS. Dominance of terrigenous material, along with relatively light Globigerinoides ruber δ18O, indicates that the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) lowstand of sea level has occurred during the period 21.5–19.6 ka, not suggesting an early slow rise but supporting the conventional LGM age of 21 ka. This LGM lowstand was terminated by the rapid sea level rise of 19 ka meltwater pulse (MWP), which is well expressed by the nearly synchronous decreases in both terrigenous detritus and mean grain size from 19.6 to 18.9 ka. MWP‐1A is clearly marked in our records by a sharp reduction in terrigenous input and pronounced maxima of G. ruber δ18O at 15.3–14.8 ka, given the considerable age uncertainties of deglacial marine radiocarbon samples. A slightly increasing input of terrigenous matter is noted after 13.4 ka, potentially pointing to a sea level fall following the Inter‐Allerød Cooling Period, which was seldom reported previously. Although MWP‐1B did not leave robust signatures in terrigenous input, it is explicitly captured by the heavy δ18O of G. ruber and decline in mean grain size at 11.5–10.9 ka. MWP‐1c probably occurred in a broad millennial interval with multiple peaks, which are robustly marked by the abrupt variations in terrigenous input and marine organic matter at 9.7–9.3 and 9.1 ka, respectively. During the late Holocene, the effect of continuously weakening monsoon precipitation overwhelmed that of stable sea level resulting in a uniform increase in the proportion of marine‐derived organic matter after 5.5 ka.
On the optimal design of experiments for conceptual and predictive discrimination of hydrologic system models
Authors: Kikuchi C. P. , Ferré T. P. A. , Vrugt J. A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractExperimental design and data collection constitute two main steps of the iterative research cycle (aka the scientific method). To help evaluate competing hypotheses, it is critical to ensure that the experimental design is appropriate and maximizes information retrieval from the system of interest. Scientific hypothesis testing is implemented by comparing plausible model structures (conceptual discrimination) and sets of predictions (predictive discrimination). This research presents a new Discrimination‐Inference (DI) methodology to identify prospective data sets highly suitable for either conceptual or predictive discrimination. The DI methodology uses preposterior estimation techniques to evaluate the expected change in the conceptual or predictive probabilities, as measured by the Kullback‐Leibler divergence. We present two case studies with increasing complexity to illustrate implementation of the DI for maximizing information withdrawal from a system of interest. The case studies show that highly informative data sets for conceptual discrimination are in general those for which between‐model (conceptual) uncertainty is large relative to the within‐model (parameter) uncertainty, and the redundancy between individual measurements in the set is minimized. The optimal data set differs if predictive, rather than conceptual, discrimination is the experimental design objective. Our results show that DI analyses highlight measurements that can be used to address critical uncertainties related to the prediction of interest. Finally, we find that the optimal data set for predictive discrimination is sensitive to the predictive grouping definition in ways that are not immediately apparent from inspection of the model structure and parameter values.
Inverting interpolated receiver functions with surface wave dispersion and gravity: Application to the western U.S. and adjacent Canada and Mexico
Authors: Chai Chengping , Ammon Charles J. , Maceira Monica , Herrmann Robert B. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractWe use P wave receiver functions from the western U.S. and adjacent regions to construct a receiver function wavefield interpolation scheme that helps to equalize the lateral sampling of the receiver functions and the surface wave dispersion and to greatly simplify the receiver functions. Spatial interpolation and smoothing suppress poorly sampled and difficult to interpret back azimuthal variations and allow the extraction of the first‐order features in the receiver function wavefield, including observations from several ray parameter ranges. We combine the interpolated receiver functions with Rayleigh wave dispersion estimates and surface gravity observations to estimate the 3‐D shear wave speed beneath the region. Speed variations in the 3‐D model correlate strongly with expected geologic variations and illuminate broad‐scale features of the western U.S. crust and upper mantle. The model is smooth, self‐consistent, and demonstrates the compatibility of the interpolated receiver functions and dispersion observations.
The Arctic is becoming warmer and wetter as revealed by the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder
Authors: Boisvert L. N. , Stroeve J. C. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractOver the past decade, the Arctic has seen unprecedented declines in the summer sea ice area, leading to larger and longer exposed open water areas. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder is a useful yet underutilized tool to study corresponding atmospheric changes and their feedbacks between 2003 and 2013. Most pronounced warming occurs between November and April, with skin and air temperatures increasing on average 2.5 K and 1.5 K over the Arctic Ocean. In response to sea ice loss, evaporation rates (i.e., moisture flux) increased between August and October by 1.5 × 10−3 g m−2 s−1 (3.8 W m−2 latent heat flux energy), increasing the water vapor feedback and cloud cover. Although most trends are positive over the Arctic Ocean, there is considerable interannual variability. Increasing specific humidity in May and corresponding downward moisture fluxes cause earlier melt onset; warming skin temperatures and radiative responses to increased water vapor and cloud cover in autumn delay freeze‐up.
A new 3‐D thin‐skinned rock glacier model based on helicopter GPR results from the Swiss Alps
Authors: Merz Kaspar , Green Alan G. , Buchli Thomas , Springman Sarah M. , Maurer Hansruedi 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMountainous locations and steep rugged surfaces covered by boulders and other loose debris are the main reasons why rock glaciers are among the most challenging geological features to investigate using ground‐based geophysical methods. Consequently, geophysical surveys of rock glaciers have only ever involved recording data along sparse lines. To address this issue, we acquired quasi‐3‐D ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) data across a rock glacier in the Swiss Alps using a helicopter‐mounted system. Our interpretation of the derived GPR images constrained by borehole information results in a novel “thin‐skinned” rock glacier model that explains a concentration of deformation across a principal shear zone (décollement) and faults across which rock glacier lobes are juxtaposed. The new model may be applicable to many rock glaciers worldwide. We suggest that the helicopter GPR method may be useful for 3‐D surveying numerous other difficult‐to‐access mountainous terrains.
Water conservation and hydrological transitions in cities in the United States
Authors: Hornberger George M. , Hess David J. , Gilligan Jonathan 
Published: May 2015

AbstractCities across the world have had to diversify and expand their water supply systems in response to demand growth, groundwater depletion and pollution, and instability and inadequacy of regional surface freshwater sources. In the U.S., these problems plague not only the arid Western cities but increasingly also cities in the Eastern portions of the country. Although cities continue to seek out new sources of water via Promethean projects of long‐distance supply systems, desalinization plants, and the recharge of aquifers with surface water, they also pursue water conservation because of its low cost and other benefits. We examine water conservation as a complex sociotechnical system comprising interactions of political, sociodemographic, economic, and hydroclimatological factors. We provide quantitative data on the factors that affect more and less advanced transitions in water conservation regimes, and we show that water stress and other hydrological data can only partially predict the transition. We also provide qualitative case studies to identify institutional and political barriers to more advanced water conservation regimes. This interdisciplinary, mixed methods approach typifies the need for knowledge that informs hydrologists about how their research may or may not be adopted by decision‐makers.
Association between age at menarche and autistic traits in Turkish university students
Authors: Hergüner Arzu , Hergüner Sabri 
Published: May 2015

ObjectivesThe androgen theory of autism suggests that masculinizing effect of fetal androgens may play a role in the expression of autism. Recent evidence showed that excessive prenatal androgen exposure might delay age at menarche (AAM). The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between autistic traits and AAM in a sample of nonclinical female university students.MethodsAutistic traits were measured using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and AAM was questioned by retrospective self‐reports. The AQ was completed by 436 female university students.ResultsThere were significant positive correlations between AAM and AQ total and subscales measuring Social Skills, Communication, and Imagination. Subjects with above average autistic traits reported later AAM than subjects with below average autistic traits.ConclusionThese findings suggest that there may be a common developmental mechanism between delayed menarche and autistic traits, possibly through elevated levels of prenatal androgens. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:44–47, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermo‐ and pH‐ responsive copolymers: Poly(n‐Isopropylacrylamide‐co‐IAM) copolymers
Authors: Rwei Syang‐Peng , Way Tun‐Fun , Chang Shu‐Mei , Chiang Whe‐Yi , Lien Yi‐Yin 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTPoly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (NIPAAm) is well known as a smart material with good thermal sensitivity and favorable biocompatibility. A series of new smart hydrogels, NIPAAm copolymerized with IAM (itaconamic acid; 4‐amino‐2‐methylene‐4‐oxobutanoic acid), were synthesized through radical solution polymerization in this work. Poly(NIPAAm‐co‐IAM) can respond to the changes of temperature as well as pH value. Such a characteristic is due to the fact that IAM contains not only a hydrophilic acrylic acid moiety but also an acrylamide moiety to be thermal and pH sensitive. The experimental results show that the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the copolymer increases as the molar fraction of IAM increases. Moreover, based on the current experimental data, 3 wt % of Poly(NIPAAm‐co‐IAM) aqueous solution in this study exhibits a phase transition temperature (37.8°C) close to the human body temperature in the buffer solution of pH 7 possibly to be useful in drug delivery. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42367.
Matrimid‐based carbon tubular membranes: The effect of the polymer composition
Authors: Sazali Norazlianie , Salleh Wan Norharyati Wan , Md Nordin Nik Abdul Hadi , Harun Zawati , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTIn this article, we present a development study of new membrane materials and enhancements of productive membranes to improve the current performance of polymeric membranes. Carbon membranes are a promising material for this matter as they offer an improvement in the gas‐separation performance and exhibit a good combination of permeability and selectivity. Carbon membranes produced from the carbonization of polymeric materials have been reported to be effective for gas separation because of their ability to separate gases with almost similar molecular sizes. In this study, a carbon support membrane was prepared with Matrimid 5218 as a polymeric precursor. The polymer solution was coated on the surface of a tubular support with the dip‐coating method. The polymer tubular membrane was then carbonized under a nitrogen atmosphere with different polymer compositions of 5–18 wt %. The carbonization process was performed at 850°C at a heating rate of 2°C/min. Matrimid‐based carbon tubular membranes were fabricated and characterized in terms of their structural morphology, thermal stability, and gas‐permeation properties with scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and a pure‐gas‐permeation system, respectively. Pure‐gas‐permeation tests were performed with the pure gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and N2 at room temperature at a pressure of 8 bar. On the basis of the results, the highest CO2/N2 selectivity of 75.73 was obtained for the carbon membrane prepared with a 15 wt % polymer composition. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42394.
Effects of the surface modification of poly(amino acid)/hydroxyapatite/calcium sulfate biocomposites on the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblast‐like cells
Authors: Fan Xiaoxia , Ren Haohao , Liu Pengzheng , Wang Peng , Li Hong , Yan Yonggang , Lv Guoyu 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTIn this study, we focused on the surface modification of a novel poly(amino acid) (PAA)/hydroxyapatite/calcium sulfate composite and the effect of its surface modification on cellular responses. The surface modification was performed by sandblasting (sample S2), calcium chloride ethanol saturated solution etching (sample S3), and formic acid etching (sample S4) followed byin vitroculturing of osteoblast‐like cells. The obtained results indicate that a new interface of the composite was formed during the modification, and the modified surface was changed with respect to its surface morphology by physical abrasion. The calcium chloride ethanol saturated solution etchant etched PAA selectively whereas forming rich calcium‐phosphate (Ca–P) apatite on the surface of S3. The formic acid etchant attacked the inorganic component without changing the PAA state. Cell attachment and cell proliferation were improved by the treatments of S2 and S3 in comparison with no treatment and the treatment of S4 © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2015,132, 42427.
Effect of processing conditions on crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) staple fibers
Authors: Bruckmoser Katharina , Resch Katharina 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTWithin this study, the applicability of Raman spectroscopy to characterize the crystallinity of PLA staple fibers was evaluated. The influence of the fiber alignment on the possibility to detect crystallinity by using Raman spectroscopy was studied. PLA staple fibers were produced by melt spinning by varying both draw temperature and draw ratio. Systematic interrelationships between the processing parameters of PLA staple fibers and the degrees of crystallinity and the cold crystallization enthalpies were established. Raman spectroscopy showed that the carbonyl stretching band of Raman spectra measured in fiber axis and parallelly polarized was not sensitive to detect crystallinity. However, for perpendicularly polarized measurements, a higher sensitivity was observed. With increasing degree of crystallinity, a reduction of the band width of the normalized carbonyl stretching band was found. The morphology affected the mechanical properties significantly. Increased draw ratio resulted in increased tensile strength and decreased elongation at break. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42432.
Anhydrous proton conductor consisting of pectin–inorganic composite material
Authors: Yamada Masanori , Ogino Takahiro 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTAn organic–inorganic proton conductive composite material consisting of a biopolymer was prepared by mixing the pectin, tetraethyl titanate, and imidazole. Although the pectin material without the composite dissolved in water, the pectin–inorganic composite material did not show water solubility. In addition, in the composite material, the pectin and imidazole formed an acid–base structure by an electrostatic interaction, and as a result, these composite materials showed a thermal stability at intermediate temperatures (100–200°C). Furthermore, these composite materials indicated the proton conductivity of 5.6 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 180°C under anhydrous conditions. The activation energy of the proton conduction under anhydrous conditions was 0.32–0.22 eV and these values were one order of magnitude higher than that of the typical humidified perfluorinated membrane, such as Nafion®. The organic–inorganic composite material consisting of a biocomponent may have the potential to be utilized as a novel proton conductor under anhydrous conditions. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42433.
Synthesis and characterization of super‐absorbent hydrogels based on hemicellulose
Authors: Zhang Jian , Xiao Huining , Li Na , Ping Qingwei , Zhang Yi 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTA kind of novel hemicellulose‐based hydrogel with excellent water absorbency was synthesized by the graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA), acrylic amide (AM) with hemicellulose. The various factors that influenced the water absorbency of the modified hemicellulose were studied, including AA content, hemicellulose content, neutralization degree of AA, and weight ratio (to monomer) of cross‐linker and initiator. The optimal conditions were found as follows: m(AA) : m(AM) : m(hemicellulose) = 15 : 3.5 : 1, the neutralization degree of AA was 75%, and weight ratio (to monomers) of the cross‐linker and the initiator was 0.03% and 1.0%, respectively. The maximum absorbencies toward distilled water and 0.9 wt % NaCl solution were 1128 g/g and 132 g/g, respectively. The characteristics of the hydrogels were also investigated by Fourier Transform InfraRed (FT‐IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM). The results indicated that the undulant surface and broad network structure offer the hydrogels excellent water absorbency. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42441.
Interactions in blends of dendronized polymeric nanocomposites with some common drugs
Authors: Alvarado Nancy , Fuentes Irma , Alegría Luz , Sandoval Claudia , Kortabería Galder , Eceiza Arantxa , Gargallo Ligia , Leiva Angel , Radić Deodato 
Published: May 2015

ABSTRACTPoly(diethylaminoethyl methacrylamide) (PEAM), a dendronized polymer, was synthesized according to classical procedures. Monomers and polymers were characterized by spectroscopic measurements. The results obtained were in agreement with the expected chemical structure. The phase behavior of blends of PEAM with diclofenac (DCF), ibuprofen (IBU), and paracetamol (PCM) were studied by different experimental techniques. FT‐IR, UV‐Vis, DSC, and TGA measurements suggested important interactions between the blended components. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated the temperature at which the dendronized polymer released a small molecule. AFM measurements and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to better understand the nature of the interactions and to estimate the distance between the components of the blends to explain the interaction involved. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 42450.