bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Coding and documentation: Medicare severity diagnosis‐related groups and present‐on‐admission documentation
Authors: Ballentine Noel H. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractEffective October 1, 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has changed its methodology for determining the diagnosis‐related group for hospitalized patients. In an effort to more accurately reflect severity of illness, the 538 diagnosis‐related groups have been converted to 745 new Medicare severity diagnosis‐related groups. In addition, selected hospital‐acquired complications not identified as present on admission will no longer be reimbursed. The changes will have profound effects on reimbursement for hospitalizations. To minimize financial losses under the new rules, hospitals and physicians will have to devote significant resources and attention to improved documentation. This article will discuss the new payment system, the physician's role in ensuring that all clinically important diagnoses are captured by coding specialists, and strategies that can be employed to respond proactively to the challenge. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:124–130. © 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Isolation and preliminary probiotic selection of lactobacilli from koumiss in Inner Mongolia
Authors: Wu Rina , Wang Liping , Wang Jicheng , Li Haiping , Menghe Bilige , Wu Junrui , Guo Mingruo , Zhang Heping 
Published: February 2009

AbstractFrom 16 samples of traditional fermented koumiss collected in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, forty‐eight lactobacilli strains were isolated and phenotypically characterized by their abilities to ferment different carbohydrates and by additional biochemical tests. The dominant lactobacilli species were identified as L. casei (17 strains), L. helveticus (10 strains) and L. plantarum (8 strains), with a lower frequency of isolation for L. coryniformis subsp. coryniformis (5 strains), L. paracasei (3 strains), L. kefiranofaciens (2 strains), L. curvatus (1 strain), L. fermentum (1 strain) and W. kandleri (1 strain). The pH values of all these samples were ranging from 3.37 to 3.94. In isolates, L. casei Zhang, L. helveticus ZL12‐1, and L. plantarum BX6‐6 were selected as potentially probiotic strains through the preliminary tests including resistance to low acid, abilities to grow in MRS with bile salts, antimicrobial activities and the viabilities during prolonged cold storage in fermented milk. Moreover 16S rDNA was conducted to confirm the identification. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Isolation and characterization of biocides resistant bacteria from dental unit water line biofilms
Authors: Liaqat Iram , Sabri Anjum Nasim 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSix biocides resistant isolates were isolated from dental unit water lines (DUWL) in Pakistan. All isolates could tolerate 150 μg ml–1 of biocides (5.25% sodium hypocholrite, 35% H2O2, 4% tween 20, 1% povidine iodine, 0.2% chlorohexidine gluconate, 1% ethylene di‐amino tetra acetic acid and 1% phenol) on l‐agar and 100 μg ml–1 in l‐broth. The growth rate of all isolates was determined by generating growth curves at 37 °C for 48 h. The isolates were found to differ in growth rates with lag phase varying from (4–6 h) in biocides supplemented media compared to 2–4 h in biocides free medium. They have wide temperatures (24–42 °C) and pH (5–9) ranges. Traditional ways of identification of bacteria by phenotypic characteristics were accomplished by phenotypic and biochemical characterization. Heavy metals and antimicrobial susceptibility tests indicated that all isolates examined were resistant to trimethoprim, chloramphenicol while sensitive to HgCl2 and Pb (NO3)2. Almost all isolates were opportunistic pathogens. The 16S rRNA‐encoding genes from these six isolates were sequenced to confirm the identity of these isolates. 5 different genera (Bacillus, Achromobacter, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella) of bacteria were identified by 16S rDNA genes amplified from genomic DNA of biocides resistant DUWL biofilm isolates. Analysis of 16S rDNA genes revealed a much more clear identification of microrganisms than culture methods. However, different species of the same genera can have the same 16S rRNA gene sequence but are different due to phenotypic differences or different clinical manifestations. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Trends of the thermal growing season in China, 1951–2007
Authors: Song Yanling , Linderholm Hans W. , Chen Deliang , Walther Alexander 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObserved 20th century changes in the length of the growing season (GS) across the Northern Hemisphere have been linked to increasing temperatures, associated with global warming. Past studies of GS changes in China have largely been based on phenological observations and satellite data, and little attention has been paid to changes in starting and ending dates of GS. Here we examine changes in the thermal GS over China from 1951 to 2007 based on observed daily surface air temperature. Using five indices, trends of three GS parameters, start, end and length, were determined at 114 high‐quality stations over China. Our results show large spatial and temporal differences in the GS parameters in China, where the most prominent changes have occurred in northern China relative to southern China. On average, from 1951 to 2007 the GS has been extended by 2.3 days/decade in northern China where most of these changes is due to an earlier onset of the GS in spring (−1.7 days/decade). In southern China, there is an average increase of GS by 1.3 days/decade with 0.6 days/decade earlier onsets in spring. Furthermore, most stations showing significant trends of GS changes are located in northern China. An extended GS in northern China indicates improved agricultural conditions due to warmer and longer GS. However, this effect may be counteracted by changes in the precipitation pattern. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
Vibrational spectroscopy investigation using density functional theory on 7‐chloro‐3‐methyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐ benzothiadiazine 1,1‐dioxide
Authors: Seshadri S. , Gunasekaran S. , Muthu S. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe solid phase Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectral analysis of 7‐chloro‐3‐methyl‐2H‐1,2,4‐benzothiadiazine 1,1‐dioxide (diazoxide), an antihypertensive agent was carried out along with density functional computations. The optimized geometry, wavenumber and intensity of the vibrational bands of diazoxide were obtained by DFT‐B3LYP level of theory with complete relaxation in the potential energy surface using 6‐31G(d,p) basis set. A complete vibrational assignment aided by the theoretical harmonic frequency analysis has been proposed. The harmonic vibrational wavenumbers calculated have been compared with experimental FTIR and FT Raman spectra. The observed and the calculated wavenumbers are found to be in good agreement. The experimental spectra coincide satisfactorily with those of calculated spectra. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Investigation of the painting materials and techniques of the late‐15th century manuscript illuminator Jean Bourdichon
Authors: Trentelman Karen , Turner Nancy 
Published: February 2009

AbstractJean Bourdichon (1457–1521) was an important French painter and manuscript illuminator of the late 15th century. To examine the evolution of Bourdichon's palette and technique over the course of his career, eight illustrations from three manuscripts (of the form known as a book of hours) dating from the early 1480s to 1515 were studied using Raman microspectroscopy in conjunction with X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopy. Results reveal that Bourdichon routinely used complex pigment mixtures, employing over 12 pigments and colorants to achieve a variety of hues and subtle tonal effects. Moreover, Bourdichon's palette remained remarkably consistent throughout his career, with only subtle changes in his use of pigments. The pigments identified in Bourdichon's works in this study are typical of those found in 15th century manuscript illumination and include: vermilion, red lead, lead‐tin yellow (type I), iron earths, malachite, copper sulfate, ultramarine, azurite, lead white and carbon‐based black along with metallic gold and silver. Additionally, previously unknown as a manuscript pigment, bismuth black (granular elemental bismuth) was found in all of Bourdichon's works in this study. The discovery of bismuth black in Bourdichon's manuscript illuminations from a book of hours dating to the early 1480s may represent one of the earliest documented uses of this material as an artist's pigment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sample preparation and fractionation for proteome analysis and cancer biomarker discovery by mass spectrometry
Authors: Ahmed Farid E. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSample preparation and fractionation technologies are one of the most crucial processes in proteomic analysis and biomarker discovery in solubilized samples. Chromatographic or electrophoretic proteomic technologies are also available for separation of cellular protein components. There are, however, considerable limitations in currently available proteomic technologies as none of them allows for the analysis of the entire proteome in a simple step because of the large number of peptides, and because of the wide concentration dynamic range of the proteome in clinical blood samples. The results of any undertaken experiment depend on the condition of the starting material. Therefore, proper experimental design and pertinent sample preparation is essential to obtain meaningful results, particularly in comparative clinical proteomics in which one is looking for minor differences between experimental (diseased) and control (nondiseased) samples. This review discusses problems associated with general and specialized strategies of sample preparation and fractionation, dealing with samples that are solution or suspension, in a frozen tissue state, or formalin‐preserved tissue archival samples, and illustrates how sample processing might influence detection with mass spectrometric techniques. Strategies that dramatically improve the potential for cancer biomarker discovery in minimally invasive, blood‐collected human samples are also presented.
Analysis of sulfonamides by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Hoff Rodrigo , Kist Tarso B. L. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe methods of analysis of sulfonamides (SFAs) using CE are reviewed. Sulfonamides were the first antimicrobial group of drugs used in medical treatment. These compounds are still used today in medicine and widely are employed in veterinary medicine, also for their growth promoter effects. Improved methods of analysis of sulfonamides are a constant challenge for researchers. CE is a new trend in the fields of pharmaceutical and food analyses. Several methods for the determination of SFAs by CE have been published in recent years, and the present review considers applications in quality control of pharmaceutical dosage forms, food analysis, determinations in serum, and other biological fluids as well as in electrophoresis experiments which examine the behavior of this class of compounds for theoretical studies of the technique. This review covers studies ranging from the pioneering works on sulfonamide analyses using classical electrophoresis to the more recent CE methods coupled to tandem mass spectrometers. The sections are divided following the EC modes like CZE, MEKC, and hyphenated methods (CE‐MS, CE‐MS/MS). A brief compilation of theoretical findings of sulfonamides electrophoretic behavior is also included. Parameters such as recoveries, LOD and LOQ, among others, are examined, covering works published until August 2008. This review can contribute to further research aimed to improve the analysis of SFAs by CE.
Packing the Steiner trees of a graph
Authors: Petingi L. , Talafha M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractLet G = (V,E) be an undirected graph with a distinguished set of terminal vertices K ⊆ V, |K| ≥ 2. A K‐Steiner tree T of G is a tree containing the terminal vertex‐set K, where any vertex of degree one in T must belong to K. The Steiner Tree Packing problem (STPP for short) is the problem of finding the maximum number of edge‐disjoint K‐Steiner trees, tK(G), contained in G. Specifically we are interested in finding a lower bound on tK(G) with respect to the K‐edge‐connectivity, denoted as λK(G). In 2003, Kriesell conjectured that any graph G with terminal vertex‐set K has at least ⌊λK(G)/2⌋ edge‐disjoint K‐Steiner trees. In this article, we show that this conjecture can be answered affirmatively if the edges of G can be partitioned into K‐Steiner trees. This result yields bounds for the problem of packing K‐Steiner trees with certain intersection properties in a graph. In addition we show that for any graph G with terminal vertex‐set K, tK(G) ≥ ⌊λK(G)/2⌋ − |V − K|/2 − 1. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
Sufficient degree conditions for k‐edge‐connectedness of a graph
Authors: Bauer D. , Hakimi S.L. , Kahl N. , Schmeichel E. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractOne of Frank Boesch's best known papers is ‘The strongest monotone degree condition for n‐connectedness of a graph’ (Boesch, J Combinatorial Theory Ser B 16 (1974), 162–165.). In this article, we give a simple sufficient degree condition for a graph to be k‐edge‐connected, and also give the strongest monotone condition for a graph to be 2‐edge‐connected. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
On the roots of strongly connected reliability polynomials
Authors: Brown J. I. , Dilcher K. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe strongly connected reliability scRel(D, p) of a digraph D is the probability that the spanning subgraph of D consisting of the operational arcs is strongly connected, given that the vertices always operate, but each arc independently operates with probability p ∈ [0, 1]. We provide here some results on the location of the roots of strongly connected reliability polynomials that contrast sharply with what is known for all terminal reliability. We show that not only there can be negative real roots, but also roots of arbitrarily large modulus. In fact, the closure of the roots of strongly connected reliability polynomials contains all of the complex plane except, possibly, some subset of the unit disk centered at z = 1. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
Approximability of unsplittable shortest path routing problems
Authors: Bley Andreas 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn this article, we discuss the relation of unsplittable shortest path routing (USPR) to other routing schemes and study the approximability of three USPR network planning problems. Given a digraphD= (V,A) and a setKof directed commodities, an USPR is a set of flow pathsP, (s,t) ∈K, such that there exists a metric λ = (λa) ∈Zwith respect to which eachPis the unique shortest (s,t)‐path. In the Min‐Con‐USPR problem, we seek an USPR that minimizes the maximum congestion over all arcs. We show that this problem is NP‐hard to approximate within a factor ofO(|V|1−ϵ), but polynomially approximable within min(|A|,|K|) in general and withinO(1) if the underlying graph is an undirected cycle or a bidirected ring. We also construct examples where the minimum congestion that can be obtained by USPR is a factor of Ω(|V|2) larger than that achievable by unsplittable flow routing or by shortest multipath routing, and a factor of Ω(|V|) larger than that achievable by unsplittable source‐invariant routing. In the CAP‐USPR problem, we seek a minimum cost installation of integer arc capacities that admit an USPR of the given commodities. We prove that this problem is NP‐hard to approximate within 2 − ϵ even in the undirected case, and we devise approximation algorithms for various special cases. The fixed charge network design problem FC‐USPR, where the task is to find a minimum cost subgraph ofDwhose fixed arc capacities admit an USPR of the commodities, is shown to be NPO‐complete. All three problems are of great practical interest in the planning of telecommunication networks that are based on shortest path routing protocols. Our results indicate that they are harder than the corresponding unsplittable flow or shortest multi‐path routing problems. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
Cost‐effective designs of fault‐tolerant access networks in communication systems
Authors: Chen Xujin , Chen Bo 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThis article is concerned with the design of fault‐tolerant access networks for cost‐effective communications—deploying network links and service providers (SPs) at a minimum cost, while ensuring error tolerance ability via the ring architecture. Given a set of service subscribers (SSs) in an access network, we are required to determine the locations and capacities of service providers, and to establish network links in terms of rings connecting SSs to SPs. We pay link costs for ring constructions and pay management costs for selecting SPs with capacities sufficient to manage the SSs in their rings. The network design aims to minimize the sum of the link costs and the management costs. Two APX‐hard problems in the general network design are studied in this article to address the scalable and modular features of SP capacities. Despite the logarithmic inapproximability that we show for one problem, constant‐factor approximation algorithms are proposed to solve the other problem and its variant in quartic time. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
A branch‐and‐cut algorithm for the undirected prize collecting traveling salesman problem
Authors: Bérubé Jean‐François , Gendreau Michel , Potvin Jean‐Yves 
Published: February 2009

AbstractGiven an undirected graph with edge costs and vertex prizes, the aim of the Prize Collecting Traveling Salesman Problem (PCTSP) is to find a simple cycle minimizing the total edge cost while collecting at least a minimum amount of prizes. In this article, we present a branch‐and‐cut algorithm to solve the PCTSP. We have adapted and implemented some classical polyhedral results for the PCTSP and derived inequalities from cuts designed for the Orienteering Problem. Computational results on instances with more than 500 vertices are reported. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009
Synthesis and characterization of liquid crystalline diethanolamine‐based dendrimers
Authors: Didehban Khadijeh , Namazi Hassan , Entezami Ali Akbar 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThree generations of diethanolamine‐based dendrimers containing nitroazobenzene were synthesized. Firstly, G1 was prepared by the diazotation of p‐nitroaniline, and then the obtained salts reacted with n‐phenyl‐2,2′‐iminodiethanol. The reaction of hydroxyl groups of diethanolamine of G1 and G2 with acryloyl chloride resulted in G1.5 and G2.5. Then, G2 and G3 were synthesized using Michael addition of amino group of diethanolamine and G1.5 and G2.5. The Williamson etherification and azo‐reaction were employed in the preparation of the mesogenic unit 4‐[4‐(6‐bromohexyloxy)phenylazo]nitrobenzene (N6‐Br). Secondly, mesogen‐functionalized dendrimers were synthesized via the coupling of the hydroxyl group of G1, G2, G3, and bromine from mesogenic units (N6‐Br). The polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for the investigation of the liquid crystalline properties of the mesogen‐functionalized dendrimers. The structures of obtained compounds were investigated using common spectroscopy methods and CHN analysis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Composite polymer electrolyte membranes comprising P(VDF‐co‐CTFE)‐g‐PSSA graft copolymer and zeolite for fuel cell applications
Authors: Patel Rajkumar , Park Jung Tae , Lee Won Seok , Kim Jong Hak , Min Byoung Ryul 
Published: February 2009

AbstractHybrid organic/inorganic composite polymer electrolyte membranes based on a poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐chlorotrifluoroethylene) grafted membrane and varying concentrations of zeolite were investigated for application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). A proton conducting comb copolymer consisting of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐chlorotrifluoroethylene) backbone and poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSSA) side chains, i.e. P(VDF‐co‐CTFE)‐g‐PSSA (graft copolymer) with 47 wt% of PSSA was synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and solution blended with zeolite. Upon incorporation of zeolite, the symmetric stretching band of both SO group (1169 cm−1) and the OH group (3426 cm−1) shifted to lower wavenumbers. The shift in these FT‐IR spectra suggests that the zeolite particles strongly interact with the sulfonic acid groups of PSSA chains. When the weight percent of zeolite 5A is above 7%, the proton conductivity at room temperature was reduced to 0.011 S/cm. The water uptake of the composite membranes decreased from 234 to 125% with an increase of the zeolite 5A weight percent to 10 wt%. The decrease in water uptake is likely a result of the decrease in the number of available water absorption sites because of the hydrogen bonding interactions between the zeolite particles and the graft copolymer matrix. This behavior is successfully investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results of thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) also showed that all the membranes were stable up to 300°C. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Weathering properties of elastic rubber concrete comprising waste tire solution
Authors: Chung Kyung‐Ho , Hong Young‐Keun 
Published: February 2009

AbstractAs a way of solving the environmental problem of waste tires, we introduce rubber concrete made from a rubber solution. The rubber solution was prepared by dissolving vulcanized waste tire scrap in a solvent mixture of tetrachloroethane and methylene chloride. The elastic rubber concrete was then manufactured by mold processing, with compositions comprising of rubber solution and aggregates. Carbon dioxide super‐critical fluid was used to extract solvent from mixture of rubber solution and aggregates. The compressive strength and strain of the rubber concrete were 93.4 MPa and 6.7%, respectively. These results indicated that the rubber concrete made in this study corresponded to ultrahigh strength and high elastic properties compared with conventional cement concrete. Weathering properties on the elastic rubber concrete were examined. The time of freeze‐thaw, lasting up to 10 days, did not affect the properties of the elastic rubber concrete. According to chemical tests with sodium chloride and sulfuric acid, it was found that the elastic rubber concrete was not affected by these chemicals for up to 240 days. Changing the outdoor condition for up to 720 days did not change the mechanical properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers