bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inequity in publicly funded physician care: what is the role of private prescription drug insurance?
Authors: Allin Sara , Hurley Jeremiah 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis study examines the impact that private financing of prescription drugs in Canada has on equity in the utilization of publicly financed physician services. The complementary nature of prescription drugs and physician service use alongside the reliance on private finance for drugs may induce an income gradient in the use of physicians. We use established econometric methods based on concentration curves to measure equity in physician utilization and its contributors in the province of Ontario. We find that individuals with prescription drug insurance make more physician visits than do those without insurance, and the effect on utilization is stronger for the likelihood of a visit than the conditional number of visits, and stronger for individuals with at least one chronic condition than those with no conditions. Results of the equity analyses reveal that the most important contributors to the pro‐rich inequity in physician utilization are income and private prescription drug insurance, while public insurance, which covers older people and those on social assistance, has a pro‐poor effect. These findings highlight that inequity in access to and use of publicly funded services may arise from the interaction with privately financed health services that are complements to the use of public services. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Provider networks and primary‐care signups: do they restrict the use of medical services?
Authors: Deb Partha , Trivedi Pravin K. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis article analyzes the effect of gatekeeper and network restrictions on use of health‐care services using simulation‐based estimation methods. Data from the Community Tracking Survey (1996–1997) show significant evidence of selection into plans with gatekeeper and/or network restrictions. Enrollees in plans with networks of physicians have fewer office‐based visits to non‐physician medical professionals, but more emergency room visits and hospital stays. Individuals in plans that require signups with a primary‐care provider have more visits to non‐physician providers of care, more surgeries and hospital stays but substantially fewer emergency room visits. Enrollees of plans that do not pay for out‐of‐network services have more office‐based and emergency room visits, but less surgeries and hospitalizations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coefficient of variation of annual flood peaks: variability of flood peak and rainfall intensity
Authors: Kuzuha Yasuhisa , Tomosugi Kunio , Kishii Tokuo , Komatsu Yosuke 
Published: December 2008

AbstractScaling can be a powerful solution for predictions in ungauged basins (PUB). Since becoming a principal scaling tool, the theory concerning the index flood method has been criticized because it requires some scaling conditions that are satisfied in few river basins. In that method, precipitation and flood discharge variability play key roles. Consequently, the coefficient of variation (CV) of annual flood peaks came to be considered after the 1990s. In this paper, we have attempted to clarify true CV characteristics of flood discharges.Using numerical simulations, we attempt to reproduce the empirical characteristics of an increase in CV with increasing catchment area for a small basin (i.e. less than 30–100 km2) and decrease in CV with increasing catchment area for a large basin. First, as a preliminary test, we developed a simple model, which is on the basis of the unit hydrograph. Results obtained using this simple model show that the CV of annual flood peaks shows a constant‐increasing‐constant pattern, but this model cannot reproduce the empirical characteristics. Secondly, we used an idealized channel network to find the cause of decreasing CV. However, results show that the ability to reproduce the empirical characteristics is unrelated to the presence or absence of a network. This was confirmed using a distributed rainfall‐runoff (DRR) model comprising a channel network. The most important cause is decreased CV of rainfall intensity with increasing catchment area.Furthermore, increasing CV of the peak discharge response (PDR) function increases the CV of annual flood peaks. However, the CV of PDR of a partial duration series does not affect the CV of annual flood peaks for smaller basins (0·1 km2 in our simulation condition); hence CV is constant for small basins. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simplification of heat balance calculation and its application to the glacier runoff from the July 1st Glacier in northwest China since the 1930s
Authors: Sakai Akiko , Fujita Koji , Nakawo Masayoshi , Yao Tandong 
Published: December 2008

AbstractSince ancient times meltwater from glaciers in mountain zones has been an important water resource in the arid region of northwest China. Meteorological elements for heat balance calculations at the glacier surface were simplified with the aim of simulating discharge fluctuations from the July 1st Glacier over a span of decades. By estimating relative humidity and downward solar radiation from precipitation, heat balance calculations at the glacier can be made using only daily temperature and precipitation, which are easily obtainable. Calculations of daily discharge using the above method during the melting season in 2002 produced a better simulation than those using the conventional positive degree‐day (PDD) factor method. (The ablation of glacier during any particular period is assumed to be proportional to the sum of daily mean temperatures above the melting point during that period.)We calculated the glacier runoff and mass balance at the July 1st Glacier since 1935 from monthly meteorological data taken near the glacier using the above method. We used three patterns of daily temperature and precipitation to estimate daily meteorological data from monthly or annual data. Calculated mass balance using the patterns of air temperature and precipitation in years when the pressure distributions were similar to its long‐term average corresponded well with observed data. Our simulation of the glacier runoff since 1935 also showed good results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of flood control and inundation conservation in Cambodia using flood and economic growth models
Authors: Kazama So , Kono Tatsuhito , Kakiuchi Kengo , Sawamoto Masaki 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis paper evaluates the optimal spatial flood protection for people living with the threat of floods in the lower Mekong River region with respect to hydrology and economics. A hydrological numerical simulation contributes to an understanding of the relationship between flood control policy and inundation areas. The numerical simulation consists of a dynamic wave model in channels and a non‐uniform flow model in inundation areas, which estimate the temporal and spatial dynamic distributions of water depth. In economics, an overlapping generations model expresses the economy's growth process considering flood magnitude and flood protection. This economic model is composed of industrial and agricultural production functions which are affected by flood control policies. The hydrological and economic models are verified by remote sensing images and data from the economic development of Thailand, respectively. Combining these two models, we can identify the area to protect and accept floods for regional development. Wide areas along the rivers should be flooded due to the benefits from fertilization for inundation agriculture in Cambodia. The conservation area should be about 2000 km2, and the spatial distribution of flooding should be identified. In the beginning of an economic growth period, there is little difference in the production of an inundation area in the range of 0–2000 km2. As the inundation area becomes larger, the production rate is larger in the stable growth period. This study explains that inundation agriculture should be maintained in riverside areas which supply much of the agricultural production in Cambodia. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent advances in the assessment of the ratios of cortisol to cortisone and of some of their metabolites in urine by LC‐MS‐MS
Authors: Saba Alessandro , Raffaelli Andrea , Cupisti Adamasco , Petri Antonella , Marcocci Claudio , Salvadori Piero 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA previously reported method for the assessment of the ratio of tetrahydrocortisol (THF) + allo‐tetrahydrocortisol (A‐THF) to tetrahydrocortisone (THE) by HPLC‐MS‐MS has been significantly improved, in order to increase either ruggedness and reliability. That was achieved by the introduction of an on‐line sample cleanup stage, which made use of a perfusion column as a solid phase microextraction (SPE) cartridge. The set of analytes was expanded, by introducing cortisol and cortisone, whose ratio supply additional diagnostic information. The response factors of both THF and A‐THF has been checked, resulting almost identical, as well as the influence of the matrix on the calibration curves which, although different for water and urine, had similar effect on the ratios of interest. As a consequence, the calibration solutions can be prepared in pure water. The influence of several different storage procedures has also been tested, resulting in no substantial effect on the final result. Finally, the improved method has been used to run real samples from healthy volunteers, with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of LID versus CID activation modes in tandem mass spectrometry of peptides
Authors: Shenar Nawar , Sommerer Nicolas , Martinez Jean , Enjalbal Christine 
Published: December 2008

AbstractWe report our contribution to the systematic investigation of peptide fragmentations performed on high‐performance Tof equipment, operating in MS and MS/MS modes, such as ESI‐QqTof and MALDI‐Tof/Tof instruments that are commonly available today in proteomic laboratories. Whereas the former analyzer's configuration provides low‐energy collision‐induced dissociations (CID), the latter allows tunable activation methods of the selected parent ion to induce either metastable laser‐induced dissociations (LID) or high‐energy CID (‘gas on spectra LID’). Fragmentation of the monoprotonated ion of 53 peptides (FW 807–2853 g/mol) was undertaken upon low‐energy CID on an ESI‐QTof mass spectrometer (Waters) as well as high‐energy CID and LID conditions on a MALDI Ultraflex mass spectrometer (Bruker). Systematic comparison of MS/MS spectra provided useful information on the performance of each piece of equipment for efficient peptide sequencing and also insights into the observed fragmentation behaviors. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Searching for anthropogenic contaminants in human breast adipose tissues using gas chromatography‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Hernández Félix , Portolés Tania , Pitarch Elena , López Francisco J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe potential of gas chromatography‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (GC‐TOF MS) for screening anthropogenic organic contaminants in human breast adipose tissues has been investigated. Initially a target screening was performed for a list of 125 compounds which included persistent halogen pollutants [organochlorine (OC) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenylss (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)], polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylphenols, and a notable number of pesticides from the different fungicide, herbicide and insecticide families. Searching for target pollutants was done by evaluating the presence of up to five representative ions for every analyte, all measured at accurate mass (20‐mDa mass window). The experimental ion abundance ratios were then compared to those of reference standards for confirmation. Sample treatment consisted of an extraction with hexane and subsequent normal‐phase (NP) High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or SPE cleanup. The fat‐free LC fractions were then investigated by GC‐TOF MS.Full‐spectral acquisition and accurate mass data generated by GC‐TOF MS also allowed the investigation of nontarget compounds using appropriate processing software to manage MS data. Identification was initially based on library fit using commercial nominal mass libraries. This was followed by comparing the experimental accurate masses of the most relevant ions with the theoretical exact masses with calculations made using the elemental composition calculator included in the software.The application of both target and nontarget approaches to around 40 real samples allowed the detection and confirmation of several target pollutants including p,p′‐DDE, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Several nontarget compounds that could be considered anthropogenic pollutants were also detected. These included 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐toluene (BHT) and its metabolite 3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde (BHT‐CHO), dibenzylamine, N‐butyl benzenesulfonamide (N‐BBSA), some naphthalene‐related compounds and several PCBs isomers not included in the target list. As some of the compounds detected are xenoestrogens, the methodology developed in this paper could be useful in human breast cancer research. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Sahelian standardized rainfall index revisited
Authors: Ali Abdou , Lebel Thierry 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) is usually defined as the arithmetic mean of the normalized precipitation recorded at several stations over a region of interest where the standard deviation computed at each station over a period of reference is used as the normalizing factor. It is common to use this index in order to diagnose whether the Sahelian region can be considered as wet or dry for a given year. There are several key factors interfering with the relevance of the SPI as a measure of how rainy is a season over the Sahel. The strong spatial variability of the Sahelian rainfall at the annual scale, the uneven distribution of the raingauge network and the mean interannual climatological gradients across the region are the most important of these factors, and their influence is studied in detail here. Using an optimal interpolation algorithm to compute the SPI, the effects of various sampling schemes are first studied showing that the SPI computed as a single mean value over the whole Sahelian region is relatively robust with respect to these effects. However, the central key question remains that computing a single mean SPI over the Sahelian region hides the strong underlying spatial variability of this index. For instance, 2006 was a significantly dry season over the Sahel as a whole, but working at the 0.5° × 0.5° resolution shows that in fact only 28% of the area was significantly dry, while 15% of the Sahel was significantly wet. From conditional empirical distributions a distribution function is proposed to determine the spatial distributions of the 0.5° × 0.5° SPI values for a given mean regional SPI value. Studying in detail the space–time pattern of the SPI over the 1950–2006 period, also shows that recent years are characterized by a greater interannual variability than the previous 40 years, and by a contrast between the western Sahel remaining dry and the eastern Sahel returning to wetter conditions. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Bioclimatic classification of Isfahan province using multivariate statistical methods
Authors: Yaghmaei L. , Soltani S. , Khodagholi M. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe purpose of the present study is to determine bioclimatic zones in Isfahan province using multivariate statistical method. Thirty‐nine climatic variables, which were more important in plant ecological conditions (especially Artemisia sieberi and Artemisia aucheri that include more than half of rangeland surface in Isfahan province), were selected and investigated with factor analysis. Results of factor analysis showed the first three factors that explain 92.3% of total variance in selected variables were precipitation, temperature and radiation and wind with 41.91, 40.18 and 10.23% of variance, respectively. According to results and using hierarchical cluster analysis in Ward's method, bioclimatic classification in Isfahan province was performed and seven bioclimatic zones were found. In addition, to compare the results of this study with the other climatic classification methods, Isfahan province was classified by four traditional climatic classification methods (Koppen, Gaussen, Emberger and De Martonne) and its results were compared to climatic classification by multivariate statistical method. It showed that multivariate statistical method gives better classification in comparison with other methods. Beside that precipitation is the most important factor in vegetation distribution of humid and cold and sub‐humid and cold regions in west and south parts of Isfahan province. In addition, temperature is the most important factor in vegetation distribution of hyper warm‐arid and warm‐arid climatic regions in eastern low elevation parts of province. Furthermore, dominant species were determined for each climatic region. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
How Cadforce makes quality part of the bottom line for its distributed work teams
Authors: Moser Cliff 
Published: December 2008

AbstractWhen state‐of‐the‐art technology and explicit work processes could not assure the quality of its deliverables, a drafting outsourcing firm turned to other tools to bridge critical learning and communication gaps between project teams on opposite sides of the world, as well as making the client part of the quality equation. Cadforce eliminated a layer of onshore project management and clarified accountabilities for quality; made training a core part of the project work flow; and synchronized onshore and offshore work cycles through a results‐oriented work environment that incorporates new media, supplemented with a “human touch,” to enhance collaboration and expedite communication between teams. Cadforce also involved clients in trade‐off decisions by making the cost of quality an explicit part of its pricing strategy. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
HSBC brings a business model of banking to the doorsteps of the poor
Authors: Marar Pramod , Iyer Balaji S. , Brahme Unmesh 
Published: December 2008

AbstractTiny loans can make a huge difference, especially when coupled with financial literacy and capacity building. With a global commitment to sustainable business through financial inclusion, HSBC partners with microfinance institutions and other organizations to empower micro‐entrepreneurs among India's rural poor, who in turn are changing lives, families, and entire communities. The authors provide an overview of HSBC Group's sustainability strategy, a brief history of microfinance in India, and HSBC in India's role in serving the microfinance industry. They also discuss the bank's multi‐stakeholder initiatives for capacity building, which include two schools where rural women learn essential business and technical skills and financial literacy, and an environmental and social village‐based initiative for water conservation and livelihood creation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mentors help new moms transition back to work at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Authors: Demirdjian Jennifer N. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA working mother reached out to encourage and support new moms in her office who were just learning to balance child‐care responsibilities with their demanding careers. Now the voluntary grassroots effort has blossomed into a formal program, part of PricewaterhouseCoopers's extensive WorkLife portfolio that is helping to retain talented women who want a family as well as a career. The author discusses the firm's actions to stem high turnover among returning mothers, including implementation of its Full Circle Program of extended leave. The article also explores the beginnings of the Mentor Moms program, how it works, the experience of some its participants, and how the firm is now making it widely available to its U.S. workforce. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dealing with the risks of innovation: A study of capital goods producers in Portugal
Authors: Varum Celeste Amorim , Monteiro Leonildo Varela , Saur‐Amaral Irina 
Published: December 2008

AbstractProduct innovation is a subtle process, frequently leading to shifts in the competitiveness of firms. Developing products in an environment undergoing technological change is given to frequent failure, even in well‐established and sophisticated organizations. In order to tackle competitiveness and to deal with innovation uncertainty, firms develop modes of innovation and innovation processes. In this study, we analyze the dominant uncertainties associated with the innovation process and modes of innovation of leading equipment and machinery producers.For that purpose we analyze the presence and types of risks and uncertainties applied to product innovation, and we test the use of two modes of innovation proposed in recent literature: (1) the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) mode, which is based on the production and use of codified scientific and technical knowledge, and (2) the Doing, Using, and Interacting (DUI) mode, which relies on informal processes of learning and experience‐based know‐how.The study is based on an exploratory multiple case study of producers of equipment and machinery in the industrial region of Aveiro, Portugal, and carried out under the research “Project Enterprise of the Future” at the University of Aveiro. The results of our study highlight several avenues that can help researchers to better channel their efforts in studying the phenomenon and help managers to foster innovation at their companies and in this way their firms' competitiveness. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Making foreign market entry decisions
Authors: Martínez Paloma Almodóvar , López José Emilio Navas 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThis article investigates the impact of the overall strategic posture of the firm on the choice of entry mode into a foreign market. This framework identifies three underlying strategies—internationalization, growth, and business—that exert a powerful influence on the choice of an international joint venture as a means of achieving an organization's goals in a global market. After conceptualizing the different types of strategies and analyzing empirical cases, we develop an ordinal logistic regression model to examine the Spanish manufacturing sector for the 2000–2002 period. The results show that firms prefer an international joint venture over a wholly owned subsidiary when developing multidomestic and cost leadership strategies. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.