bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Legislating Hospital Bed Reduction: The Michigan Experience
Authors: Paul-Shaheen Pamela , Carpenter Eugenia S. 
Published: January 2008

A variety of programs aimed at health care cost containment have been initiated at the state level. This article presents a case study of one state's effort to deal with health care cost issues, focusing on the formulation and adoption of legislation to reduce the number of hospital beds.
The Michigan bed-reduction legislation was the creature of a coalition of powerful, organized “professional consumers” of health services who placed hospital cost containment on the political agenda and framed a solution. The provisions of the legislation were reshaped during the legislative process to grant concessions to a variety of interest groups, particularly the Michigan Hospital Association. Many additional criteria for determining excess bed capacity, some subjective, were added. Cost containment as a goal was, if not subordinated, at least made competitive with other goals–access to care, equity among types of providers, and quality of services.
While the initial proposal was attractive as a seemingly simple extension of the certificate-of-need process within the existing regulatory framework, the legislation became increasingly complex in response to new issues raised by political actors who contributed to the shaping of the final version of the legislation. The formulation and adoption of Michigan's overbedding legislation appears to underscore what many other observers have noted: there are no purely technical solutions to health policy problems.
Economic Dependency, Health Services, and Health: The Case of Lesotho
Authors: Gish Oscar 
Published: January 2008

This article is concerned with two factors affecting the health status of the people of Lesotho: (1) the nation's function as a reserve labor economy (that is, the primary source of income for about half the country's male labor force is employment in South Africa); and (2) the health care system (its size, composition, accessibility, and efficiency). Although such apparently diverse factors usually are analyzed independently, they might be combined to provide a more complete understanding of the determinants of health and disease.
The paper reaches the conclusion that any substantive solutions to the problems of Lesotho will be found primarily in the wider southern Africa setting, and not within the context of small, dependent national states. At the same time, these small, dependent national states must make development decisions considering existing geopolitical realities. Foresightful decision making on these issues could both contribute immediately to the health of the people of Lesotho, and also increase the longer-term possibilities for a better life for all the people of southern Africa.
Active Control of the Oxidization of a Silicon Cantilever for the Characterization of Silicon-based Semiconductors
Authors: Ono Atsushi , Masui Kyoko , Saito Yuika , Sakata Takao , Taguchi Atsushi , Motohashi Masashi , Ichimura Taro , Ishitobi Hidekazu , Tarun Alvarado , Hayazawa Norihiko , Verma Prabhat , Inouye Yasushi , Kawata Satoshi 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
We propose a novel technique of oxidizing silicon cantilever tips to characterize silicon-based semiconductors by tip-enhanced Raman measurements. The technique uses thermal oxidization process under steam atmosphere. It is aimed for the suppression of Raman scattering originating from the silicon tip itself without degrading the tip sharpness. The thickness of the oxidized silicon on the silicon tip is controlled by the thermal oxidization time. We successfully obtained 250-nm thick silicon dioxide in 1100 °C temperature under steam at 10-min oxidization time. Using the oxidized tip, we experimentally verified that silicon Raman vibration was completely suppressed.
Catalytic Performance of Organically Functionalized Core/Shell Monodispersed Mesoporous Silica Spheres Containing an Adsorption Layer
Authors: Suzuki Tomiko M , Nakamura Tadashi , Akimoto Yusuke , Yano Kazuhisa 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
A new type of organically functionalized core/shell monodispersed mesoporous silica spheres (MMSS) containing catalytic sites (sulfonic acid groups) in the core portion and adsorption sites (hydrophobic organic functional groups) in the shell portion were successfully prepared by an expansion method. The acid catalytic activity could be enhanced drastically by the introduction of the shell layer.
Cycloaddition/Ring Opening Sequence of α-Hydroxy Cyclic Nitronates as a Synthetic Equivalent of Functionalized Aliphatic Nitrile Oxides
Authors: Nishiuchi Masaki , Sato Hiroyasu , Ohmura Hiroyuki 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
α-Hydroxy cyclic nitronates act as synthetic equivalents of nitrile oxides. Cycloaddition of 3-substituted 4-hydroxy-2-isoxazoline N-oxides or 4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2-isoxazoline N-oxides with electron-deficient alkenes produce bicyclic isoxazolidines, which undergo ring opening of one of the ring-fused isoxazolidines on acid treatment to give 2-isoxazoline derivatives by elimination of hydroxyacetaldehyde or carbon–carbon bond cleavage.
Generalized Online Routing: New Competitive Ratios, Resource Augmentation, and Asymptotic Analyses
Authors: Jaillet Patrick , Wagner Michael R. 
Published: January 2008

We consider online routing optimization problems where the objective is to minimize the time needed to visit a set of locations under various constraints; the problems are online because the set of locations are revealed incrementally over time. We consider two main problems: (1) the online traveling salesman problem (TSP) with precedence and capacity constraints, and (2) the online TSP with m salesmen. For both problems we propose online algorithms, each with a competitive ratio of 2; for the m-salesmen problem, we show that our result is best-possible. We also consider polynomial-time online algorithms. We then consider resource augmentation, where we give the online servers additional resources to offset the powerful offline adversary advantage. In this way, we address a main criticism of competitive analysis. We consider the cases where the online algorithm has access to faster servers, servers with larger capacities, additional servers, and/or advanced information. We derive improved competitive ratios. We also give lower bounds on the competitive ratios under resource augmentation, which in many cases are tight and lead to best-possible results. Finally, we study online algorithms from an asymptotic point of view. We show that, under general stochastic structures for the problem data, unknown and unused by the online player, the online algorithms are almost surely asymptotically optimal. Furthermore, we provide computational results that show that the convergence can be very fast.
Active B12: A Rapid, Automated Assay for Holotranscobalamin on the Abbott AxSYM Analyzer
Authors: Brady Jeff , Wilson Lesley , McGregor Lynda , Valente Edward , Orning Lars 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackground: Conventional tests for vitamin B12 deficiency measure total serum vitamin B12, whereas only that portion of vitamin B12 carried by transcobalamin (holotranscobalamin) is metabolically active. Measurement of holotranscobalamin (holoTC) may be more diagnostically accurate for detecting B12 deficiency that requires therapy. We developed an automated assay for holoTC that can be used on the Abbott AxSYM immunoassay analyzer.Methods: AxSYM Active B12 is a 2-step sandwich microparticle enzyme immunoassay. In step 1, a holoTC-specific antibody immobilized onto latex microparticles captures holoTC in samples of serum or plasma. In step 2, the captured holoTC is detected with a conjugate of alkaline phosphatase and antiTC antibody.Results: Neither apoTC nor haptocorrin exhibited detectable cross-reactivity. The detection limit was ≤0.1 pmol/L. Within-run and total imprecision (CV ranges) were 3.4%–5.1% and 6.3%–8.5%, respectively. Assay CVs were &lt;20% from at least 3 pmol/L to 107 pmol/L. With diluted serum samples, measured concentrations were 104%–114% of the expected values in the working range of the assay. No interference from bilirubin, hemoglobin, triglycerides, erythrocytes, rheumatoid factor, or total protein was detected at expected (abnormal) concentrations. A comparison of the AxSYM Active B12 assay with a commercial RIA for holoTC yielded the regression equation: AxSYM = 0.98RIA + 4.7 pmol/L (Sy x, 11.4 pmol/L; n = 204). Assay throughput was 45 tests/h. A 95% reference interval of 19–134 pmol/L holoTC was established with samples from 292 healthy individuals.Conclusions: The AxSYM Active B12 assay allows rapid, precise, sensitive, specific, and automated measurement of human holoTC in serum and plasma.
Second-Tier Test for Quantification of Alloisoleucine and Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Dried Blood Spots to Improve Newborn Screening for Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD)
Authors: Oglesbee Devin , Sanders Karen A , Lacey Jean M , Magera Mark J , Casetta Bruno , Strauss Kevin A , Tortorelli Silvia , Rinaldo Piero , Matern Dietrich 
Published: January 2008

AbstractBackground: Newborn screening for maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) relies on finding increased concentrations of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) leucine, isoleucine, and valine by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). d-Alloisoleucine (allo-Ile) is the only pathognomonic marker of MSUD, but it cannot be identified by existing screening methods because it is not differentiated from isobaric amino acids. Furthermore, newborns receiving total parenteral nutrition often have increased concentrations of BCAAs. To improve the specificity of newborn screening for MSUD and to reduce the number of diet-related false-positive results, we developed a LC-MS/MS method for quantifying allo-Ile.Methods: Allo-Ile and other BCAAs were extracted from a 3/16-inch dried blood spot punch with methanol/H2O, dried under nitrogen, and reconstituted into mobile phase. Quantitative LC-MS/MS analysis of allo-Ile, its isomers, and isotopically labeled internal standards was achieved within 15 min. To determine a reference interval for BCAAs including allo-Ile, we analyzed 541 dried blood spots. We also measured allo-Ile in blinded samples from 16 MSUD patients and 21 controls and compared results to an HPLC method.Results: Intra- and interassay imprecision (mean CVs) for allo-Ile, leucine, isoleucine, and valine ranged from 1.8% to 7.4%, and recovery ranged from 91% to 129%. All 16 MSUD patients were correctly identified.Conclusions: The LC-MS/MS method can reliably measure allo-Ile in dried blood spots for the diagnosis of MSUD. Applied to newborn screening as a second-tier test, it will reduce false-positive results, which produce family anxiety and increase follow-up costs. The assay also appears suitable for use in monitoring treatment of MSUD patients.
Genome-Wide Linkage Scan for Athlete Status in 700 British Female DZ Twin Pairs
Authors: De Moor Marleen H. M. , Spector Tim D. , Cherkas Lynn F. , Falchi Mario , Hottenga Jouke Jan , Boomsma Dorret I. , De Geus Eco J. C. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAssociation studies, comparing elite athletes with sedentary controls, have reported a number of genes that may be related to athlete status. The present study reports the first genome wide linkage scan for athlete status. Subjects were 4488 adult female twins from the TwinsUK Adult Twin Registry (793 monozygotic [MZ] and 1000 dizygotic [DZ] complete twin pairs, and single twins). Athlete status was measured by asking the twins whether they had ever competed in sports and what was the highest level obtained. Twins who had competed at the county or national level were considered elite athletes. Using structural equation modeling in Mx, the heritability of athlete status was estimated at 66%. Seven hundred DZ twin pairs that were successfully genotyped for 1946 markers (736 microsatellites and 1210 SNPs) were included in the linkage analysis. Identical-by-descent probabilities were estimated in Merlin for a 1 cM grid, taking into account the linkage disequilibrium of correlated SNPs. The linkage scan was carried out in Mx using the-approach. Suggestive linkages were found on chromosomes 3q22-q24 and 4q31-q34. Both areas converge with findings from previous studies using exercise phenotypes. The peak on 3q22-q24 was found at the SLC9A9 gene. The region 4q31-q34 overlaps with the region for which suggestive linkages were found in two previous linkage studies for physical fitness (FABP2 gene; Bouchard et al., 2000) and physical activity (UCP1 gene; Simonen et al., 2003). Future association studies should further clarify the possible role of these genes in athlete status.
Genetic Susceptibility of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Zdravkovic Slobodan , Wienke Andreas , Pedersen Nancy L. , de Faire Ulf 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the influence of genetic factors on the first episode of acute myocardial infarction. Probandwise concordances, tetrachoric correlations and quantitative genetic analyses of liability were applied to data drawn from the Swedish Twin Registry and the Swedish Acute Myocardial Infarction Register. All same-sexed twin pairs born between 1886 and 1958 who were alive in 1987 were included in the analyses. Our results show that concordance rates for acute myocardial infarction in monozygotic (MZ) twins were similar across sexes (among males .26 and females .27). For dizygotic (DZ) twins the concordances were .20 for males and .16 for females, yielding a greater MZ–DZ concordance differential for females than males. Tetrachoric correlations were greater for MZ than DZ twins for both sexes (.49 for male MZ and .34 for male DZ-twins and .56 and .35 for female MZ and DZ twins respectively). Quantitative genetic analyses of liability resulted in equal variance components for males and females (.36) but significantly different thresholds (prevalences). In conclusion, liability to first occurrence of acute myocardial infarction is moderately influenced by genetic variants in both sexes. The familial influence on phenotypic variance is exclusively explained by additive genetic factors.
Prioritization of Positional Candidate Genes Using Multiple Web-Based Software Tools
Authors: Thornblad Tobias A. , Elliott Kate S. , Jowett Jeremy , Visscher Peter M. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe prioritization of genes within a candidate genomic region is an important step in the identification of causal gene variants affecting complex traits. Surprisingly, there have been very few reports of bioinformatics tools to perform such prioritization. The purpose of this article is to investigate the performance of 3 positional candidate gene software tools available, PosMed, GeneSniffer and SUSPECTS. The comparison was made for 40, 20 and 10 Mb regions in the human genome centred around known susceptibility genes for the common diseases breast cancer, Crohn's disease, age-related macular degeneration and schizophrenia. The known susceptibility gene was not always ranked highly, or not ranked at all, by 1 or more of the software tools. There was a large variation between the 3 tools regarding which genes were prioritized, and their rank order. PosMed and GeneSniffer were most similar in their prioritization gene list, whereas SUSPECTS identified the same candidate genes only for the narrowest (10 Mb) regions. Combining 2 or all of the candidate gene finding tools was superior in terms of ranking positional candidates. It is possible to reduce the number of candidate genes from a starting set in a region of interest by combining a variety of candidate gene finding tools. Conversely, we recommend caution in relying solely on single positional candidate gene prioritization tools. Our results confirm the obvious, that is, that starting with a narrower positional region gives a higher likelihood that the true susceptibility gene is selected, and that it is ranked highly. A narrow confidence interval for the mapping of complex trait genes by linkage can be achieved by maximizing marker informativeness and by having large samples. Our results suggest that the best approach to classify a minimum set of candidate genes is to take those genes that are prioritized by multiple prioritization tools.
Optimization of Energy Utilization and Productivity of Heat Treating Batch-Type Furnaces
Authors: Hassan A. , Hamed M. S. 
Published: January 2008

Abstract
Due to the energy-intensive nature of the heat treating industry and the recent substantial increase of energy prices, the availability of predictive tools that can be used to optimize heat treatment processes has become a very pressing must. Load configuration (size and arrangement) during batch-type heat treating operations is the main factor that controls the rate of heat transfer between the furnace and the load, and hence it affects energy utilization and productivity of such operations. The main objective of this work is to develop a numerical model that can be used as a predictive tool for determining optimum loading of batch-type furnaces in order to achieve maximum productivity (mass treated per unit time) and minimum energy consumption per unit mass. A numerical model has been developed to simulate heat treatment processes in batch-type furnaces. The model has been validated by comparing numerical results with experimental data collected under laboratory and real-life conditions. Experiments have been carried out at the research facility at TPL as well as at different industrial sites. The paper presents the development and validation of the model as well as case studies of batch heat treatment cycles where best load configurations have been investigated.
Deliberation in Six Juries: A Participant Observer Study
Authors: Warren Carol A.B. , Mauldin Linda 
Published: January 2008

Since the 1930s, jury deliberation has been studied only through questionnaire or interview, or experimental methods. This paper uses a participant observer approach to the study of deliberations in six juries.Juries were found to be concerned both with the issues in the trial and with the intersection of their own and the trial participants' birgraphies. Their deliberations included assessments of the moral character of the criminal participants, the competence of the attorneys and judges, both from within the context of jurors' own life experiences. The imagery of the “good juror,” the interactions with fellow jurors, and the extra‐jury everyday life contingencies brought to the jury room also influenced deliberations.
The Phenomenon Of The Public Wife: An Exercise In Goffman's Impression Management*
Authors: Gillespie Joanna B. 
Published: January 2008

Approaching the topic of American leader‐image from the perspective of politics‐as‐theater (political communication as exchange of symbols), this paper examines a taken‐for‐granted visual symbol which a national political leader is invariably expected to present: a wife. Her contributions to her husband's “impression management” techniques (Goffman, 1959) are studied in Goffman's “defensive” categories of dramaturgical loyalty, dramaturgical discipline, and dramaturgical circumspection.This analysis suggests that the visible presence of a wife in public leadership rituals offers the public voter or viewer important reassurances or symbolic guarantees about her husband's “morality”—and, therefore, his appropriateness for public trust. She has become a necessary partof his public performance because of our everyday need for “cultural absolutes” (Furay, 1977) in the image of our leadership figures.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTION AND SOCIAL POLICY ANALYSIS*
Authors: Estes Carroll L. , Edmonds Beverly C. 
Published: January 2008

This paper explores the contribution that interactionist approaches may make to the study and understanding of social policy based on a discussion of: (1) the general orientation of the interactionist line on inquiry and the general assumptions which the theoretical stance makes about the character of the world, (2) the problems that are of primary interest to those who work within this perspective, and (3) the methodological and technical aspects of this approach.Fruitful foci for basic and applied research from the interactionist perspective include: (1) how policy is constructed through negotiation within a structural context, (2) the multiple interpretations of policy intent and implementation, (3) the experience and meaning of social “problems” for those who are the intended objects of the social policies, and (4) the consequences of policies for the social order. Some of the major properties of the social policy context (uncertainty, decentralization, and political pluralism) are explored for their relevance to social policy analysis. Finally, we discuss the contribution of an institutional‐contextual‐social worlds approach as a macro‐micro bridging mechanism in social policy studies.
Reservoir-Fluid Sampling Revisited— A Practical Perspective
Authors: Bon Johannes , Sarma Hemanta , Rodrigues Teof , Bon Jan 
Published: January 2008

Summary
Pressure/volume/temperature (PVT) fluid properties are an integral part of determining the ultimate oil recovery and characterization of a reservoir, and are a vital tool in our attempts to enhance the reservoir's productive capability. However, as the experimental procedures to obtain these are time consuming and expensive, they are often based on analyses of a few reservoir-fluid samples, which are then applied to the entire reservoir. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure that representative samples are taken, as they are fundamental to the reliability and accuracy of a study.
Critical to the successful sampling of a reservoir fluid is the correct employment of sampling procedures and well conditioning before and during sampling. There are two general methods of sampling—surface and subsurface sampling. However, within these, there exist different methods that can be more applicable to a particular type of reservoir fluid than to another. In addition, well conditioning can differ depending on the type of reservoir fluid. Sampling methods for each reservoir type will be discussed with an emphasis on scenarios where difficulties arise, such as near-critical reservoir fluids and saturated reservoirs. Methods, including single-phase sampling and isokinetic sampling, which have been used increasingly in the last decade, will also be discussed with some detail, as will preservation of the representatives of other components in the sample including asphaltenes, mercury, and sulfur compounds.
The paper presents a discussion aimed at better understanding the methods available, concepts behind the methods, well conditioning, and problems involved in obtaining representative fluid samples.
An Analytical Bottomwaterdrive Aquifer Model for Material-Balance Analysis
Authors: Yildiz Turhan , Khosravi Ahmedreza 
Published: January 2008

Summary
In this study, we present a new analytical model to predict water influx from finite bottomwaterdrive aquifers (BWDAs). The new model can be used for aquifer representation in reservoir simulators and material-balance analysis. The new model is computationally fast. The model has been verified against the results from the Coats (1962) and Allard and Chen (1988) models. Using the new model, we compare the cumulative water influx from bottomwaterdrive (BWD) and edgewaterdrive (EWD) aquifers.
In the second part, we couple the new aquifer model with the material-balance equation (MBE) and demonstrate its use in reserves estimate. Production data from a BWD oil reservoir simulated by Allard and Chen (1988) is analyzed. We conducted a McEwen analysis (1962) to predict the reserves.