bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the fire environments in central offices of the telecommunications industry
Authors: Tewarson Archibald 
Published: July 2003

AbstractEight free burning and two sprinklered fire tests were performed with electrical cable trays and live digital switch racks in a large enclosure to simulate telecommunications central office (TCO) fires started by electrical overheating. Very‐slow‐growing (non‐flaming), slower‐growing (partially flaming) and low‐intensity‐faster‐growing (flaming) fires releasing gray‐white, gray, and black smoke, respectively, were observed in the tests. Under quiescent conditions present in the unvented enclosure fire tests for cables, very‐slow‐growing fires were detected in about 1452 s, whereas the slower‐growing fires were detected in about 222 s by commercial fire detectors. Under ventilation conditions typical of TCOs, detection times were very similar for the five types of commercial TCOs fire detectors used in the tests. The average detection times for slower‐growing fires (cable fires) and low‐intensity‐faster‐growing fires (digital switch rack fires) were 242±17% and 249±11%s respectively.The TCO procedures to reduce smoke damage from fires (on fire detection, inlet ventilation flow is turned off and exhaust flow is turned on) were found to be beneficial. The extent of smoke damage decreased significantly with an increase in the exhaust flow rate. The chloride ion mass deposition suggested that equipment recovery would be possible in the smoke environment if the cable vapor concentration could be reduced below about 3 g/m3.The metal corrosion rate was found proportional to the 0.6th power of the smoke concentration, similar to that found for the corrosion of metal surfaces exposed to aqueous solutions of HCl and HNO3 and for acid rain with no protective layer at the surface. Sprinkler water was found to wash down the smoke deposits on the surfaces with little indication of corrosion enhancement. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The value of the change in health in Sweden 1980/81 to 1996/97
Authors: Burström Kristina , Johannesson Magnus , Diderichsen Finn 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe study aimed to estimate the value of the change in health in Sweden 1980/81 to 1996/97. Quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) for men and women at specific ages were estimated for 1980/81, 1988/89 and 1996/97, by combining survival rates and health state scores. Data from the Swedish Survey of Living Conditions (n=39 966) were used to estimate age‐specific health state scores. Responses to selected survey questions were mapped into the EQ‐5D measure, using the UK EQ‐5D index tariff to derive health state scores. The monetary value of a QALY was assumed to be $100 000. Life expectancy for infants increased by 3.68 years for males and 2.70 years for females between 1980/81 and 1996/97. Average health status decreased in younger age groups whereas it increased in older age groups. Expected QALYs for infants increased by 2.64 for males and 0.54 for females. With 3% discounting the gain was 0.11 QALYs ($11 000) among males and a loss by 0.58 QALYs ($58 000) among females. The corresponding gain in discounted QALYs for a 75‐year‐old was 1.15 ($115 000) and 0.80 ($80 000), respectively. It is concluded that older persons have experienced considerable health gains whereas the health gains have been small or non‐existent for younger women. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Construction of the contingent valuation market in health care:a critical assessment
Authors: Smith Richard D. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractContingent valuation (CV) has been criticised for being too hypothetical, with expressed values bearing little relation to actual values. The magnitude of this divergence, however, depends upon how realistic and believable the contingent market is. This paper presents an overview of five key aspects in the construction of the contingent market: (i) scenario development and presentation; (ii) payment vehicle; (iii) expression of risk; (iv) time period of valuation; and (v) survey administration. CV studies in health care since 1985, totalling 111, are critically reviewed with respect to these five aspects. It is concluded that CV studies in health care have performed poorly in the construction, specification and presentation of the contingent market, and that there has been little, if any, improvement in this respect over the last 15 years. Suggestions are made concerning why this may be the case, and how the construction of the contingent market may be improved in future. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hospital efficiency targets
Authors: Jacobs Rowena , Dawson Diane 
Published: July 2003

AbstractCost‐efficiency targets, used to encourage downward pressure on hospital unit costs, have been employed within the UK NHS for many years. There has been considerable speculation that these targets create incentives to reduce beds and increase occupancy rates at the expense of holding spare capacity to accommodate fluctuations in emergency admissions. This research used panel data for the period 1994/1995–1999/2000, supplemented by a series of semi‐structured interviews, to explore the strategies Trusts employ to reduce unit costs. No relationship could be found between published targets and changes in unit costs, nor that targets were successful in reducing the dispersion of unit costs over time. Interviews revealed that efficiency gains required of Trusts, usually dictated by the local health economy, often bore no correspondence to the national or regional published targets. Results further indicated that contrary to prior speculation, Trusts divide into two distinct groups, those with high occupancy rates and those with a high proportion of free beds to accommodate emergencies, with Trust characteristics displaying stability over time. A pressing need for future work is the development of measures to encourage efficiency that take account of quality improvement. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Public spending on health care and the poor
Authors: Gupta Sanjeev , Verhoeven Marijn , Tiongson Erwin R. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThis paper uses new cross‐country data to assess the relationship between public spending on health care and the health status of the poor. Data are drawn from two sources: (i) existing data on health status by income quintile tabulated from demographic health surveys in 44 countries; and (ii) our estimates of the health status of the poor in over 70 countries drawn from a new technique in decomposing social indicators. Our estimates confirm that the poor have significantly worse health status than the nonpoor and the regression results provide new evidence that public spending on health care matters more to them. However, the results suggest that increased public spending alone will not be sufficient to significantly improve health status. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The missing link: on the line between C and E
Authors: Brouwer Werner B.F. , Rutten Frans F.H. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractIn this paper it is argued that the separation of elements associated with the time spent by the patient is not conducted in a consistent way. This is the case for income (for which there at least has been some attention) and for other time elements like lost unpaid work, leisure and role‐functioning. The use of general rather than specific preferences in health state assessments makes the separation of time‐elements into costs and effects difficult. While costs are calculated specifically for the patient group under study, effects are normally derived from preferences in the general public. The characteristics of these two groups in terms of (the opportunity of) spending time on activities need not coincide. The use of specific time‐group valuations of health states may be a good alternative to using general health state valuations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The TTO method and procedural invariance
Authors: Spencer Anne 
Published: July 2003

AbstractIn a pilot study we investigate whether the inferences we draw about people's preferences towards health care treatments are altered if we vary the procedure that is used to elicit these preferences. In a conventional time trade‐off (TTO) question, respondents express their preferences towards treatment by comparing a period of ill‐health with a shorter period in a higher quality of life. In our less conventional TTO question, we vary the procedure by asking respondents their preferences towards treatment by comparing a period of ill‐health with a longer period in a lower quality of life. The quantitative data are equivocal about whether preferences for treatment differ between the conventional and unconventional questions. The qualitative data support the notion of contrasting issues in the questions that involve prolonging time in a lower quality of life and appear to account for a failure to find quantitative differences in all of the questions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Methodological issues raised by preference‐based approaches to measuring the health status of children
Authors: Petrou Stavros 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThis paper identifies and discusses a number of methodological issues that require consideration when applying preference‐based approaches to the measurement of the health status of children. It is argued that the decision about which dimensions of health status to incorporate into health state descriptions or classifications should depend, in part, upon whether the measure will be used to inform resource allocation within or across age groups. In addition, the paper identifies and discusses a number of methodological issues surrounding the appropriate respondents for descriptions and valuations of health status in different contexts; potential sources of bias in the description and valuation processes; and the psychometric integrity of alternative measurement approaches. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sediment transport problems in Nepal evaluated by the SETRIC model
Authors: Depeweg Herman , Paudel K. P. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe SETRIC mathematical model has been developed to study the interrelationship between water flow and sediment transport in irrigation canals under changing flow conditions. The effects of flow control structures, water delivery schedules and maintenance plans on the overall response of the canal with respect to sediment transport can be studied with this model. The earlier model in QuickBasic has been transferred to a Visual Basic environment, which has resulted in an interactive and user‐friendly interface.The model has been used to evaluate the design of the Sunsari Morang irrigation system in Nepal for different operation and maintenance plans. With the model, a simultaneous simulation of a wide range of variables has been studied that affect the sediment transport performance of the canal. Even though it might be premature to present quantitative results without detailed calibration of the model, the qualitative results of the model are encouraging. The simulation results revealed some fundamental issues, which, if addressed properly during the design, will lead to a improved canal system in terms of operation and maintenance. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Frequency analysis of extreme rainfall using L‐moment
Authors: Lee Soon H. , Maeng Sung J. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThis research seeks to derive the design rainfalls through the L‐moment with the test of homogeneity, independence and outlier of data on annual maximum daily rainfall in 38 Korean rainfall stations. To select the appropriate distribution of annual maximum daily rainfall data according to rainfall station, generalized extreme value (GEV), generalized logistic (GLO) and generalized pareto (GPA) probability distributions were applied and their aptness was judged using an L‐moment ratio diagram and the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test. The GEV and GLO distributions were selected as the appropriate distributions. Their parameters were estimated from the observed and simulated annual maximum daily rainfall using Monte Carlo techniques. Design rainfalls were then derived using the L‐moment. Appropriate design rainfalls were suggested by doing a comparative analysis of design rainfall from the GEV and GLO distributions according to rainfall stations. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison and analysis of design floods by the change in the order of LH‐moment methods
Authors: Lee Soon H. , Maeng Sung J. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThis research seeks to derive the design floods through the appropriate order of LH‐moments with the test of homogeneity, independence and outlier of data on annual maximum floods in six Korean watersheds. To select the appropriate probability distribution for annual maximum flood data according to watershed, we applied the generalized extreme value (GEV), generalized logistic (GLO) and generalized Pareto (GPA) distributions. We arranged L, L1, L2, L3 and L4‐moment method theories by the change in the order of LH‐moment (parameter estimation method) according to three probability distributions, and presented LH‐moment ratio diagrams, i.e. L, L1, L2, L3 and L4‐moment ratio diagrams. We judged the suitability of the applied GEV, GLO and GPA distributions through the LH‐moment ratio diagrams and the Kolmogorov–Smirnov (K–S) test. We derived the parameter and design flood of the appropriate distribution using L, L1, L2, L3 and L4‐moment methods, targeting the observed and the simulated annual maximum flood through Monte Carlo techniques. By comparing and analyzing design floods derived through LH‐moment methods and the appropriate distribution according to watershed, we presented the appropriate order of LH‐moments that can derive appropriate design floods. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Coercive and cooperative policy designs: moving beyond the irrigation system
Authors: Johnson Clare L. , Handmer John W. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe governance and management of large‐scale irrigation schemes involves the integration of the formal and informal rules and responsibilities of actors at different system spatial scales. To achieve sustainable water management in the irrigated sector an understanding of the interlinkage between these actors is essential. It is to this interlinkage that this paper is focused.Drawing on research in environmental and hazard management, this paper explores the usefulness of applying a coercive/cooperative policy design framework to the study of irrigation management in a developing country context. It is argued that such a framework is a useful theoretical construct for exploring the multi‐level relationships between governments, irrigation agencies and farmers in the governance and management of large‐scale irrigated agriculture. Using the Muda irrigation scheme as a case study, this framework illustrates how an apparent mismatch between coercive governance and cooperative management influences the attainment of key policy objectives. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Irrigation management turnover: an option for improved utilization of limited water resources in Pakistan
Authors: Latif Muhammad , Pomee Muhammad Saleem 
Published: July 2003

AbstractUnderperformance of the irrigation systems and poor cost recovery from irrigated area in Pakistan have been a source of concern for the last few decades and since then it has been the subject of considerable external assistance and internal policy reforms. To address these problems in the management of irrigation systems, the World Bank proposed a number of institutional changes for irrigation management turnover (IMT). After thorough consideration it was decided to decentralize instead of privatizing the irrigation system management and to promote farmers' participation in the system management. Under these reforms, management at secondary canal level has recently been handed over to the farmers' organizations (FOs) of selected distributaries at a pilot scale.This study was designed to evaluate the farmer‐managed distributary in southern Punjab. Initial field measurements revealed that hydraulic aspects of the irrigation service delivered by the FO management have been significantly improved and as a result a highly proportionate and equitable water distribution pattern was observed, particularly at the tail reaches of the distributary during the post‐transfer scenario. Due to effective FO management farmers' interventions to increase the outlet discharge by illegal means have almost ceased. As a result of these improvements made by the FO in system management the extent of irrigated area has on average increased by 6–7% even under severe drought and continued famine‐like conditions prevailing in the country during recent years. Most importantly, cost recoveries have increased by an amount of 14% for summer and 23% for winter growing seasons respectively from the irrigated area of the distributary. Thus experience from the Hakra 4‐R distributary has shown that even under undesirable natural circumstances IMT was quite effective in achieving the key targets of the institutional reforms launched at pilot scale in the country. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of three calibration procedures for TDR soil moisture sensors
Authors: Quinones H. , Ruelle P. , Nemeth I. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe application of time domain reflectometry (TDR) principles to determine soil water content has been widely accepted as an alternative method since Topp et al. (1980) proposed an empirical relationship between the dielectric constant of soil and soil moisture content. However, a wide range of studies have made it clear that the proposed function has only restricted validity. Although the response of the TDR signal shows a steady correlation with soil moisture, it is also affected by others factors related to the physical and chemical nature of soil and the solute characteristics of soil solution. It is therefore necessary to determine a particular calibration for each situation. Three methods are used to calibrate a TDR sensor. First, two well‐known methods are compared: non‐continuous wetting on one hand, and continuous wetting by dripping of a soil sample on the other. The third consists of the progressive introduction of a sensor in a soil sample with a known moisture content. The three methods all lead to similar consistent relationships. The methods are validated using field data taking into account spatial variation of measurement at a given date and water inputs and uptakes under an irrigated corn crop during a growing season. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A method to estimate soil‐water movement under a trickle surface line source, with water extraction by roots
Authors: Elmaloglou St. , Malamos N. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThe analysis of local infiltration from a surface line source of trickle irrigation in two homogeneous, unsaturated soils, using three wetting rates in each soil is presented. A method to determine the depth of the wetted soil volume under a trickle line is described. The proposed method is based on numerical results from a plane flow model, which takes into account water uptake by roots, and separates the phenomenon in two phases; the length of each phase depends on the duration of the irrigation and the soil. The empirical relationships, an exponential for the stage of the infiltration and a polynomial for the stage after the end of the irrigation, are only time dependent in order to achieve simplicity. Five statistical criteria were used to evaluate the quality of the method's results: average error (AE), root mean square error (RMSE), root mean square (RMS), modeling efficiency (EF) and coefficient of residual mass (CRM), in combination with goodness of fit, R2. The agreement between the numerical results and the values calculated by the empirical relationships was very satisfactory, showing that the combined use of an exponential and a polynomial empirical relationship can reasonably be used to calculate the vertical movement of the wetting front through the soil profile. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vitro human phase I metabolism of xenobiotics I: Pesticides and related compounds used in agriculture and public health, may 2003
Authors: Hodgson Ernest 
Published: July 2003

AbstractThis is the first revision of a database covering human phase I enzymes and their isoforms that metabolize pesticides and related compounds. The original version included enzymes that metabolize chloroacetamide and triazine herbicides, and organophosphorus insecticides. This revision also includes carbamate, nicotinoid, and pyrethroid insecticides and insect repellents. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 17:201–206, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10080
Diabetes and mitochondrial bioenergetics: Alterations with age
Authors: Ferreira Fernanda M. , Palmeira Carlos M. , Seiça Raquel , Moreno António J. , Santos Maria S. 
Published: July 2003

AbstractSeveral studies have been carried out to evaluate the alterations in mitochondrial functions of diabetic rats. However, some of the results reported are controversial, since experimental conditions, such as aging, and/or strain of animals used were different. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the metabolic changes in liver mitochondria, both in the presence of severe hyperglycaemia (STZ‐treated rats) and mild hyperglycaemia (Goto‐Kakizaki (GK) rats). Moreover, metabolic alterations were evaluated both at initial and at advanced states of the disease.We observed that both models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes presented alterations on respiratory chain activity. Because of continual severe hyperglycaemia, 9 weeks after the induction of diabetes, the respiratory function declined in STZ‐treated rats, as observed by membrane potential and respiratory ratios (RCR, P/O, and FCCP‐stimulated respiration) assessment. In contrast, GK rats of 6 months age presented increased respiratory ratios.To localize which respiratory complexes are affected by diabetes, enzymatic respiratory chain activities were evaluated. We observed that succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase activities were significantly augmented both in STZ‐treated rats and GK rats of 6 months age. Moreover, H+‐ATPase activity was also significantly increased in STZ‐treated rats with 3 weeks of diabetes and in GK rats of 6 months age as compared to controls. Therefore, these results clearly suggest that both animal models of diabetes present some metabolic adjustments in order to circumvent the deleterious effects promoted by the high glucose levels typical of the disease. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 17:214–222, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.10081