bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Strategic analysis for health care organizations: the suitability of the SWOT‐analysis
Authors: van Wijngaarden Jeroen D. H. , Scholten Gerard R. M. , van Wijk Kees P. 
Published: July 2010

SUMMARYBecause of the introduction of (regulated) market competition and self‐regulation, strategy is becoming an important management field for health care organizations in many European countries. That is why health managers are introducing more and more strategic principles and tools. Especially the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)‐analysis seems to be popular. However, hardly any empirical research has been done on the use and suitability of this instrument for the health care sector. In this paper four case studies are presented on the use of the SWOT‐analysis in different parts of the health care sector in the Netherlands. By comparing these results with the premises of the SWOT and academic critique, it will be argued that the SWOT in its current form is not suitable as a tool for strategic analysis in health care in many European countries. Based on these findings an alternative SWOT‐model is presented, in which expectations and learning of stakeholder are incorporated. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploring health professionals' perspectives on factors affecting Iranian hospital efficiency and suggestions for improvement
Authors: Afzali Hossein Haji Ali , Moss John R , Mahmood Mohammad Afzal 
Published: July 2010

AbstractWhile numerous studies have been undertaken in many developed countries and in a few developing countries, there has so far been no systematic attempt to identify factors affecting efficiency in the Iranian hospitals. This study was designed to elicit the perspectives of a group of health professionals and managers so as to analyse factors affecting the efficiency of hospitals owned by the Iranian Social Security Organization (SSO), which is the second largest institutional source of hospital care in that country. This study also aimed to identify actions that would improve efficiency. Using purposive sampling (to identify key informants), interviews with seventeen health professionals and hospital managers involved in the SSO health system were conducted. The respondents identified a number of organizational factors affecting efficiency, particularly the hospital budgeting and payment system used to fund physicians, and the lack of the managerial skills needed to manage complex facilities such as hospitals. The interviewees stressed the necessity for reforms of the regulatory framework to improve efficiency. A few participants recommended the concept of a funder‐provider split. The results of this exploratory study have provided meaningful insight into Iranian health professionals views of factors affecting efficiency, and of possible remedial actions. It is expected that the findings will provide guidance for health policy makers and hospital managers in the Iranian SSO to analyse factors affecting efficiency and to identify remedial actions to improve efficiency. Hospitals in other developing countries may be affected by similar factors. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A cross‐cultural examination of Aboriginal and European Canadian mothers' beliefs regarding proactive and reactive aggression
Authors: Cheah Charissa S. L. , Sheperd Kelly A. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to examine the maternal beliefs and practices regarding preschool children's proactive and reactive aggression, within a cross‐cultural framework. Participants included 30 Aboriginal and 45 European Canadian mothers of preschoolers who provided their emotional reactions, causal attributions, socialization strategies, and parenting goals in response to children's aggressive behaviours. Results supported previous research that both groups of mothers generally responded negatively to both types of aggression, although there were differences in the extent of negative emotional responses expressed by mothers in the two cultures depending on the type of aggression. Mothers believed that reactive aggression was due to more external causes than proactive aggression and generally used more power assertive strategies in response to proactive versus reactive aggression. Aboriginal mothers were less anxious and used less power assertive strategies than European Canadian mothers. These findings speak to the importance of examining both similarities and differences in mother's beliefs and practices across cultures. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
SOX9 determines RUNX2 transactivity by directing intracellular degradation
Authors: Cheng Aixin , Genever Paul G 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell differentiation is controlled by the cooperative activity of a network of signaling mechanisms. Among these, RUNX2 and SOX9 are the major transcription factors for osteogenesis and chondrogenesis, respectively. Their expression is overlapped both temporally and spatially during embryogenesis. Here we have demonstrated that RUNX2 and SOX9 physically interact in intact cells and have confirmed that SOX9 can inhibit the transactivation of RUNX2. In addition, RUNX2 exerts reciprocal inhibition on SOX9 transactivity. In analyses of the mechanism by which SOX9 regulated RUNX2 function, we demonstrated that SOX9 induced a dose-dependent degradation of RUNX2. Although RUNX2 is normally degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, we found that SOX9-mediated degradation was proteasome-independent but phosphorylation-dependent and required the presence of the RUNX2 C-terminal domain, which contains a nuclear matrix targeting sequence (NMTS). Furthermore, SOX9 was able to decrease the level of ubiquitinated RUNX2 and direct RUNX2 to the lysosome for degradation. SOX9 also preferentially directed β-catenin, an intracellular mediator of canonical Wnt signaling, for lysosomal breakdown. Consequently, the mechanisms by which SOX9 regulates RUNX2 function may underlie broader signaling pathways that can influence osteochondrogenesis and mesenchymal fate. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Deriving the phylogenetic information from some physicochemical properties of protein sequences computed
Authors: Chiu Shih‐Hau , Chen Chien‐Chi , Yuan Gwo‐Fang , Lin Thy‐Hou 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe evolutionary relationships of organisms are traditionally delineated by the alignment‐based methods using some DNA or protein sequences. In the post‐genome era, the phylogenetics of life could be inferred from many sources such as genomic features, not just from comparison of one or several genes. To investigate the possibility that the physicochemical properties of protein sequences might reflect the phylogenetic ones, an alignment‐free method using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier is implemented to establish the phylogenetic relationships between some protein sequences. There are two types of datasets, namely, the “Enzymatic” (assigned by an EC accession) and “Proteins” used to train the SVM classifiers. By computing the F‐score for feature selection, we find that the classification accuracies of trained SVM classifiers could be significantly enhanced to 84% and 80%, respectively, for the enzymatic and “proteins” datasets classified if the protein sequences are represented with some top 255 features selected. These show that some physicochemical features of amino acid sequences selected are sufficient for inferring the phylogenetic properties of the protein sequences. Moreover, we find that the selected physicochemical features appear to correlate with the physiological characteristic of the taxonomic classes classified. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010
Physicochemical and adsorptive properties of fast‐pyrolysis bio‐chars and their steam activated counterparts
Authors: Lima Isabel M. , Boateng Akwasi A. , Klasson Kjell T. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractBACKGROUND: This study investigated steam‐activation as a technology for adding value to fast‐pyrolysis bio‐chars. Due to short residence times in the fluidized‐bed pyrolyzer, required to maximize bio‐oil production, the bio‐char structure tends to be underdeveloped thereby impacting its full potential application as a value‐added co‐product.RESULTS: The bio‐chars of several substrates from a fluidized‐bed fast pyrolyzer and their respective corresponding steam‐activated counterparts were characterized for their surface areas and metal ion adsorption (copper, cadmium, nickel and zinc). Surface areas increased with activation from negligible to 136–793 m2 g−1 of material, with concomitant pore development evidenced by scanning electron microscopy and mathematical modeling. Affinity to Cu2+ was highest with adsorption efficiencies for 1 mmol L−1 solutions ranging from 60–85%. Metal ion adsorption performance was feedstock dependent and increased with activation, possibly due to improved access to highly reactive adsorption sites associated with the inorganic material in the feedstock.CONCLUSION: Because of their higher yields and metal ion uptake, broiler litter and alfalfa stems could be the feedstock of choice when considering upgrading fast pyrolysis bio‐char for metal ion uptake. However, if the development of large surface areas is required, guayule bagasse and soybean straw could be the preferred feedstock. Published 2010 by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.
A study by infra‐red spectroscopy of hydrogen bonding in cellulose
Authors: Marrinan H. J. , Mann J. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe interaction between cellulose and heavy water allows absorptions due to stretching of OH groups in crystalline and amorphous regions to be studied independently. Crystalline regions give several absorption bands in the 3600–3000 cm.−1 range and it is shown that all the bands are due to stretching of OH groups. Arguments are presented that support the idea that these bands can be interpreted in terms of vibrations of individual groups. It is shown that all the OH groups in crystalline regions of regenerated and bacterial celluloses are hydrogen‐bonded, and that crystal structures suggested by Peirce for these celluloses are incorrect. Suggestions are made about the types of hydrogen bond present in regenerated cellulose.The relationship between infra‐red absorption frequencies and O……O distances in crystals is discussed. It is concluded that no reliable estimate of O……O distances in cellulose can be made from absorption frequencies on the basis of results available at present.
Polyaminotriazoles as fibre‐forming materials
Authors: Fisher J. W. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractA new series of condensation polymers, the polyaminotriazoles, are described. These are made most simply by condensation of aliphatic dihydrazides in the presence of excess of hydrazine. The polymers are fibre‐forming and can be melt‐spun to give filaments which, after drawing, possess high strength and good affinity for dyestuffs of the acid and S.R.A. types, i.e. disperse types, as used for cellulose acetate rayon.
A general system describing the visco‐elastic properties of bitumens and its relation to routine test data
Authors: Van Poel C. Der 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAfter dynamic and static experiments on the mechanical behaviour of bitumens an attempt was made to incorporate all the essential factors into a simple system. This was found to be possible in the form of a nomograph, by means of which the deformation of bitumens can be calculated as a function of stress, time and temperature. Origin or method of manufacture proved to be of less importance than hardness and rheological type. For correlation with standard test‐methods, the ring‐and‐ball temperature and the penetration index were found to be suitable parameters. The nomograph enables the average behaviour of a given grade to be calculated with an accuracy sufficient for engineering purposes.Another feature of the nomograph is that it creates the possibility of giving an interpretation of other routine tests. By way of example both penetration and Fraass breaking test are discussed.
Developments in the theory of particle mixing
Authors: Lacey P. M. C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractIt is shown that there are three components in a mixing process: convection, diffusion and shear. The concepts involved in analysing complete and partial mixtures are examined and a statistically satisfactory expression evolved for the state of a mixture. A number of theories of mixing rate are examined and compared with the few published experimental results, and a new theoretical treatment is offered based on diffusion theory. This is shown to be in at least as good agreement with fact as existing theories, and to provide a better basis for extension to more complex cases.
A study of phase transitions in sodium hydroxide
Authors: Smothers W. J. , Kruh R. F. , Carlton J. K. , Chiang Yao 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAs a part of a broad programme of investigation of sodium hydroxide, the transitions up to its melting point were studied. This was accomplished by correlation of results obtained through use of differential thermal, high‐temperature microscopic, and high‐temperature X‐ray analyses. The melting of sodium hydroxide monohydrate, the driving off of entrapped water at higher temperatures, the transition of x‐sodium hydroxide to β‐sodium hydroxide, and the melting point of β‐sodium hydroxide were the transitions identified and studied. An X‐ray powder pattern for β‐sodium hydroxide was obtained; it appeared to indicate a cubic structure for this material, with a lattice parameter of 11.0 Å.
Studies on the chlorination of the side chains of alkylaromatic compounds
Authors: Harvey P. G. , Smith F. , Stacey M. , Tatlow J. C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPhotochemical chlorinations of alkylaromatic compounds, such as toluene, the xylenes, mesitylene etc., give the corresponding side‐chain polychloro‐derivatives, though some nuclear chlorination, and also the formation of viscous condensation products, may occur concomitantly. Replacement by chlorine of the side‐chain hydrogen of alkylperchlorobenzenes does not, in general, appear to proceed to completion. Attempts to obtain perchloro‐compounds by further chlorination in ultraviolet light cause fission of dichloromethyl groups and the formation of hexachlorobenzene.
Phase equilibria in sugar solutions. III. Ternary systems of water‐hexose‐inorganic salt
Authors: Kelly F. H. C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractTernary diagrams at 30° for systems water‐KCl and either glucose or fructose are presented. The solution at the invariant point (I.P.) contained less KCl in the presence of fructose, and this is attributed to the higher solubility of fructose than glucose in water.
Phase equilibria in sugar solutions. IV. Ternary system of water‐glucose‐fructose
Authors: Kelly F. H. C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe ternary diagram at 30° for the system water‐glucose‐fructose is presented. An area in which anhydrous glucose was the solid phase was identified. It is concluded that the transition temperature of glucose hydrate (50°) is appreciably reduced by the presence of fructose.
The oxidation of 5: 6‐Dihydroxyindoies and the structure of melanin
Authors: Bruce J. M. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe first stage in the formation of melanin from 5: 6‐dihydroxyindole is regarded as the formation of a mixture of 5: 6‐dihydroxy‐(3: 4′‐ and ‐3: 7′)‐di‐indolyl 5′ 6′‐quinones. Fission of the ortho‐quinonoid rings of these compounds to either a dicarboxylic acid or an α‐keto‐acid, followed by recyclization through the 2‐position of the intact indole nucleus, would give, after decarboxylation, a mixture of ‘2: 3‐dihydroxy‐6‐oxo‐8: 9‐(2′: 3′‐ and ‐3′: 2′‐pyrrolo) heptindoles’‘Cycloheptindole’, ‘Ring Index’ No. 1789
which, after oxidation to the corresponding ortho‐quinones, could undergo oxidative copolymerization to a polymer showing the properties of melanin.Quantitative evidence in favour of such a mechanism is cited, the application of the hypothesis to substituted 5: 6‐dihydroxyindoles is described, and the possibility that melanin may be a copolymer of ‘3‐{6′‐[4′: 5′‐(2″: 3″‐ and −3″: 2″‐pyrrolo)‐5′: 6′‐dihydropyr‐2′‐onyl] }‐indole‐5: 6‐quinones’ is briefly discussed.
Physicochemical studies on dusts. VII. The effect of acids on the solution properties of silicious dusts
Authors: Gibb J. G. , Ritchie P. D. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe rate of solution of a pure rock‐crystal dust (e.g. Madagascar quartz) in a borate buffer (pH 7–5) is reduced by prior extraction with acid, whereas similar treatment of impure silicious dusts (e.g. Lochaline sand, a sandstone, or orthoclase felspar) increases their solubility rates. The enhanced rate is not due to regeneration of a disturbed amorphous surface‐layer, of the type produced by crushing and grinding silica, and it can be reduced, sometimes back to its original value, by heat treatment within the temperature range of about 60–1150°. Silica gel, on the other hand, does not show a reduction in solubility rate below about 700°; hence, the observed enhanced rates cannot be attributed to hydration of the silica surfaces during acid extraction. Infra‐red spectrometry leads to the same conclusion.During reduction of the enhanced solubility rates by heat treatment and by other methods, the silica surfaces become inactivated, and further extraction with acid does not raise the solubility rate again. Possible reasons are advanced.Alumina is removed from two impure silicious dusts during acid extraction. Pretreatment of such dusts with sulphuric acid of various pH values causes a slight increase in all the initial pH values, indicating partial removal of hydrogen ions from the extracting medium. It is considered that these ions are adsorbed on the surface irregularities produced by the prior removal of impurities by acid extraction, and the various solubility effects observed are explained on the basis of this layer of adsorbed hydrogen ions.Reduction of solubility by heat treatment shows the characteristics of a second‐order reaction, with a rate constant independent of temperature. It is suggested that the reaction consists of desorption of hydrogen ions; a tentative mechanism is discussed.
Textile properties of the synthetic fibres
Authors: Morton T. H. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe number of possible fibre‐forming high polymers is very great, but the screening of these materials by various tests reduces them to a quite small group of substances suitable for general textile use.The range of available synthetic fibres is discussed and some indication is given of the criteria useful in examining a new fibre‐forming polymer in order to decide its textile utility.
Glucose and fructose contents of sugar‐cane molasses
Authors: Kelly F. H. C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe glucose and fructose contents of samples of sugar‐cane molasses from Queensland (Australia) have been determined by oxidizing aldose groups with iodine and sodium hydroxide and estimating the residual fructose by using Luff's modified method of reductiometric analysis. Glucose is determined by subtracting the value for fructose from the total reducing sugar content, also estimated by using Luff's modified method. The Luff modified method of analysis is preferred because of the equal reducing power for glucose and fructose. The glucose/fructose ratio of the molasses samples was found to vary over a wide range from 0–84/1 to 1/3.5, according to the district in which the cane had been grown.
The influence of hydrophilic colloids on the miscibility of phenol and water
Authors: Purnell J. H. , Bowden S. T. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe influence of certain hydrophilic materials on the miscibility of phenol and water is examined. The critical solution temperature (C.S.T.) is lowered by sodium stearate and tannin, and raised by colophony, starch, agar and gelatin. For stearate and tannin systems it is found that a linear relation obtains between the logarithm of the depression and the logarithm of the concentration. Small quantities of these solutes can be estimated by measuring the change in C.S.T. Precipitation occurs in systems containing starch, agar and gelatin, and dissolution temperatures corresponding to the production of a standard turbidity are determined. For colloidal materials of this kind, the observation of the miscibility and dissolution temperatures furnishes a method of identification.
The preparation of 1: 1: 3‐trialkoxyalkanes and related compounds
Authors: Bellringer F. J. , Bewley T. , Hall R. H. , Jacobs D. I. H. , Stern E. S. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractA novel method of preparing 1: 1: 3‐triethoxybutane, involving entrainment of water from a refluxing mixture of crotonaldehyde, ethanol and an acid catalyst, has been investigated, and conditions have been found for obtaining yields of over 90%. Extension of the method to αβ‐unsaturated aldehydes and aliphatic alcohols in general has shown that it is of wide applicability, very high yields (better than 85%) of the corresponding 1: 1: 3‐trialkoxyalkanes being obtained in certain cases. In addition, several trialkoxy‐compounds which were not readily accessible by other methods have now been prepared in satisfactory yields.The use of ethylene and trimethylene glycols in place of the monohydric alcohols has led to the formation and isolation of the corresponding 2‐(ω‐hydroxyalkoxy)alkyl‐1: 3‐dioxolans and ‐dioxans respectively.
Interaction of alcohols with hydrogen halides
Authors: Gerrard W. , Madden R. W. , Tolcher P. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractPrevious and submitted evidence on the mechanism of interaction between an alcohol and a hydrogen halide points to the conclusion that the formation of an alkyl halide entails two steps: the rapid formation of an oxonium halide, ROH2+ X−, and the rate‐determining dehydration of it. Results from the studies of kinetics and optical rotatory power are as yet inconclusive on the mechanism of the second step, but they point to the concurrence of several modes.The maximum amount of hydrogen halide absorbed by an alcohol depends on the nature of the alcohol and on the temperature. This amount is of great significance because it determines the maximum concentration of the oxonium halide, and also can control the extent to which the water produced reduces the rate of formation of alkyl halide. Because of these points, and because the concentration of halide ion can be increased, certain added substances, such as pyridine, dioxan and even water, can increase the rate of formation and final yield of alkyl halide.Results of experiments on the solubility of hydrogen chloride in different alcohols, and on the extraction of the halide by water, are discussed.
Evidence for a hydrochlorination retarder within natural rubber latex particles
Authors: Gordon Manfred , Taylor James S. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractKinetic evidence is presented for the occurrence in Hevea latex particles of a trace substance that retards the hydrochlorination reaction. No retardation effect is observed with synthetic polyisoprene latex. The chemical nature of the retarder in Hevea particles is not known, but it is likely to be a basic substance. Its retardation action reflects its power to deactivate the reactive precursor of the hydrochlorination reaction, which is interpreted as a form of ion pair (H+, Cl−). A constant amount of the precursor is deactivated by the retarder irrespective of the temperature or pressure of the hydrochlorination reaction.