bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How many beds? Capacity implications of hospital care demand projections in the Irish hospital system, 2015‐2030
Authors: Keegan Conor , Brick Aoife , Walsh Brendan , Bergin Adele , Eighan James , Wren Maev‐Ann 
Published: October 2018

SummaryExisting Irish hospital bed capacity is low by international standards while Ireland also reports the highest inpatient bed occupancy rate across OECD countries. Moreover, strong projected population growth and ageing is expected to increase demand for hospital care substantially by 2030. Reform proposals have suggested that increased investment and access to nonacute care may mitigate some increased demand for hospital care over the next number of years, and it is in this context that the Irish government has committed to increase the supply of public hospital beds by 2600 by 2027. Incorporating assumptions on the rebalancing of care to nonhospital settings, this paper analyses the capacity implications of projected demand for hospital care in Ireland to 2030.This analysis employs the HIPPOCRATES macrosimulation projection model of health care demand and expenditure developed in the ESRI to project public and private hospital bed capacity requirements in Ireland to 2030. We examine 6 alternative projection scenarios that vary assumptions related to population growth and ageing, healthy ageing, unmet demand, hospital occupancy, hospital length of stay, and avoidable hospitalisations.We project an increased need for between 4000 and 6300 beds across public and private hospitals (an increase of between 26.1% and 41.1%), of which 3200 to 5600 will be required in public hospitals. These findings suggest that government plans to increase public hospital capacity over the 10 years to 2027 by 2600 may not be sufficient to meet demand requirements to 2030, even when models of care changes are accounted for.
Inhibitory effects of ascorbic acid toward snake venom metalloproteinase (SVMP) from Indian Echis carinatus venom: Insights from molecular modeling and binding studies
Authors: Choudhury Manisha , Senthilvadivel Vajravijayan , Velmurugan Devadasan 
Published: October 2018

AbstractClassical antivenom therapy is unable to shield complications of viper bite and has limitations such as anaphylaxis and serum sickness. Snake venom metalloproteinases are responsible for local tissue damage and hemorrhage at the bitten site in viper envenomation, and this has led to a persistent search for metalloproteinase inhibitors. Here, we report the inhibitory effects of ascorbic acid against metalloproteinase from Echis carinatus venom both in‐silico and in‐vitro. Ascorbic acid effectively inhibited the proteolytic activity of E. carinatus venom in a dose‐dependent manner. Interaction studies of ascorbic acid with purified ecarin using isothermal titration calorimetry showed favorable binding energy and energetics. The molecular docking of ascorbic acid with ecarin revealed important interactions with residues at the active site pocket of ecarin. It was observed that the ligand behaves as a chelating inhibitor. Thus, the backbone structural scaffold of ascorbic acid can find potential use as building blocks in designing drug‐like molecules for viper bite management.
Insulin increases cholesterol uptake, lipid droplet content, and apolipoprotein B secretion in CaCo‐2 cells by upregulating SR‐BI via a PI3K, AKT, and mTOR‐dependent pathway
Authors: Fuentes Marcela , Santander Nicolás , Cortés Víctor 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe actions of insulin on intestinal cholesterol absorption and lipoprotein secretion are not well understood. Herein, we determined the effects of insulin on the levels of cholesterol transporter scavenger receptor, class B, type I (SR‐BI), cellular cholesterol uptake, intracellular lipid accumulation, and lipoprotein secretion in a cellular model of human intestinal epithelium. Methods: CaCo‐2 cells were cultured to postconfluency in Transwell filters and stimulated with glucose (25 mM) in the presence or absence of insulin (100 nM) at their basolateral surface. SR‐BI mRNA and protein levels were quantified by quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR and immunoblot, respectively. Polarized localization of SR‐BI was determined by cell surface proteins biotinylation and streptavidin precipitation. Activities of PI3K, AKT, mTOR, and SR‐BI were pharmacologically antagonized. Cholesterol uptake was assessed by NBD‐cholesterol incorporation. Apolipoprotein (apo) B concentration was quantified by ELISA. Subcellular localization of neutral lipids (BODIPY) and SR‐BI (immunofluorescence) was determined by confocal microscopy.
Results: In polarized CaCo‐2 cells, insulin increased SR‐BI at the mRNA and protein levels. SR‐BI was exclusively present at apical cell surface, as indicated by biotinylation and confocal microscopy analysis. Glucose did not modify SR‐BI abundance or subcellular localization. Effects of insulin on SR‐BI levels were abrogated by PI3K, AKT, or mTOR pharmacological antagonism. Cholesterol uptake, neutral lipid abundance, and apo B secretion were increased by insulin in CaCo‐2 cells, and these effects were prevented by SR‐BI pharmacological antagonism with block lipid transport‐1.
Conclusions: insulin promotes cholesterol uptake, intracellular lipid store, and apo B–containing lipoproteins secretion by SR‐BI‐dependent mechanisms in a model of human intestinal epithelium.
miR‐345‐5p regulates proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia cells by targeting AKT2
Authors: Ying Xiaoyang , Zhang Wanggang , Fang Meiyun , Zhang Weijun , Wang Chenchen , Han Li 
Published: October 2018

AbstractAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant clonal hematopoietic disease, which is caused by hematopoietic stem cell abnormalities. Epigenetic regulation, especially of microRNAs (miRNAs), mostly results from external or environmental effects and is critical to AML. In this study, for the first time, we report that decreased expression of miR‐345‐5p facilitates the proliferation of leukemia cells in AML. Further study demonstrated that AKT1/2 was the target of miR‐345‐5p and was responsible for the dysregulation of leukemia cell proliferation and apoptosis. Inhibition of AKT1/2 ameliorated this malignant effect, which provides new insight into AML diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and next‐step translational investigations.
Apigenin as an effective anticancer natural product: Spotlight on TRAIL, WNT/β‐catenin, JAK‐STAT pathways, and microRNAs
Authors: Ozbey Ulku , Attar Rukset , Romero Mirna Azalea , Alhewairini Saleh S , Afshar Behnaz , Sabitaliyevich Uteuliev Yerzhan , Hanna‐Wakim Lara , Ozcelik Beraat , Farooqi Ammad Ahmad 
Published: October 2018

AbstractWealth of information gleaned from decades of high‐impact research work; scientists have disentangled the complicated web of versatile regulators that underlie cancer development and progression. Use of structural biology approaches and functional genomics have helped us to gain new insights into complex nature of cancer, and it is now clear that genetic/epigenetic mutations, overexpression of oncogenes, inactivation of tumor suppressors, loss of apoptosis, and versatility of protein binding partners have contributory roles in carcinogenesis and metastatic spread. It is becoming progressively more understandable that reprogramming of gene expression during and nontranscriptional changes during cancer development and progression are initiated and controlled by deregulated signal transduction cascades, all of which collectively create an incalculable complexity. Data obtained through preclinical and clinical trials revealed that alterations in the targeted oncogenes and other downstream, and parallel pathways played a central role in the development of resistance against different therapeutics. Phytochemicals have regained limelight, and different natural products are currently being tested for efficacy in preclinical studies. Apigenin, a plant‐derived flavonoid has considerable pharmacological value and is reportedly involved in the regulation of different signaling cascades. In this review, we have attempted to summarize rapidly evolving understanding of molecular biologists and pharmacologists about the potential of apigenin in the regulation of deregulated signaling pathways in different cancers. We have emphasized on the regulation of WNT/β‐catenin and janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK‐STAT) pathways. We also comprehensively discuss how apigenin restored apoptosis in tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL)‐resistant cancers. The review also gives a snapshot of microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate wide‐ranging biological processes, and it is now clear that each miRNA can control hundreds of gene targets. Apigenin was noted to upregulate miR‐520b and miR‐101 in different cancers to inhibit tumor growth. Moreover, apigenin‐induced apoptotic rate was significantly higher when used in combination with miR‐423‐5p inhibitors or miR‐138 mimics. Better comprehension of linear and integrated signaling pathways will be helpful in effective therapeutic targeting of deregulated signaling pathways to inhibit/prevent cancer.
Retracted: EMI shielding effectiveness of expanded graphite and reduced graphene oxide
Authors: Gairola S. P. , Gairola Preeti , Shah S. K. , Gupta Rajeev 
Published: October 2018

Retraction: Gairola, SP, Gairola, P, Shah, SK, Gupta, R. EMI shielding effectiveness of expanded graphite and reduced graphene oxide. J. Chin. Chem. Soc. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/jccs.201800189.The above article, published online on 1 October 2018 in Wiley Online Library (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com), has been retracted by agreement between the corresponding author, the journal's Editor‐in‐Chief, Dr. Yu‐Tai Tao, the Chemical Society Located in Taipei, and Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. The retraction has been agreed due to several images across Figures 1, 2 and 3 within the article having been duplicated from other publications. The corresponding author apologizes for the inconvenience caused.
Protocol identification and preservation of myxozoan parasites for microscopy with silver nitrate (Klein's dry) staining technique
Authors: Fariya Naireen 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe present study, discusses a first report of staining techniques with silver nitrate (AgNO3) stain for the preservation and identification of myxozoans globally. The silver nitrate stain was used to prepare permanent slide preparation of myxozoans with some adaptations made in our laboratory. Fresh air dried smear were stained with silver nitrate stain ensuing dark brown color polar capsules and light brown color of spore‐wall. The stain is everlasting for years differing to other stains like Geimsa, iron‐heamotoxylin Zeihl‐Neelsen Blue, and trichome stains.Research HighlightsStains usually fade with time and fail to disclose the morphological characters of the specimen. Present staining method helps to detect less infection in the tissue locating the myxospores. The Klein dry method (1958) is useful and suitable for long term preservation of the myxozoan slides and morphological description.
Assessing Inflation Convergence in the East African Community
Authors: Dridi Jemma , Nguyen Anh D.M. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe paper investigates inflation convergence in five East African countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, as they aspire to form a monetary union by 2024 under the umbrella of the East African Community (EAC). We find that inflation differentials in the five EAC countries are not persistent, implying that inflation rates in these countries have been converging. This convergence can be attributed to a similarity in terms of the nature of shocks affecting EAC countries as well as the crucial role of foreign factors as drivers of inflation in these countries since the early 1990s. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Is Productivity Affected by Remittances? The Evidence from Morocco
Authors: Makhlouf Farid 
Published: October 2018

AbstractEmpirical results yield mixed evidence of the effect of remittances on economic growth in countries of origin. This note assesses the potential impact of remittance instability on total factor productivity in Morocco. It uses a threshold vector autoregression model for the period 1975–2014. Remittances are used as a threshold variable. Results show that the response of total factor productivity to shock in remittances is positive and stronger when those remittances exceed the value of 5.132 per cent of GDP with the reverse effect when they are lower than the threshold value. Public authorities may enhance remittances to accelerate a country's development. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spectroscopic characterization of adsorbate confined in small mesopores: Distinction of first surface‐adsorbed layer, polymolecular layers, and liquid clusters
Authors: Arakcheev Vladimir G. , Bekin Alexey N. , Morozov Viacheslav B. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractCoherent anti‐Stokes Raman scattering is applied to distinguish dense phases of carbon dioxide adsorbed in mesoporous glass Vycor with pores of 2 nm in radius. Each of the phases is identified by their Raman shifts corresponding to the CO2 band at 1388 cm−1. The results show that the first layer adsorbed on the pore wall and the polymolecular layers adsorbed upon it can be spectroscopically distinguished from each other. Moreover, the spectrum of the polymolecular layers, usually considered as liquid‐like, is found to be noticeably shifted from that of the liquid phase, making these two similar phases also distinguishable. After the onset of condensation, the spectrum of appearing liquid phase is found to be at least threefold broader than that of the bulk liquid. As pressure is increased, it narrows down to the value in the bulk liquid. Observed narrowing reflects size enlargement of liquid clusters, which being initially of nanometer scale in all three dimensions grow up and merge together with pressure increase, finally turning into a single “infinite” cluster, that is, bulk liquid. The results show that Raman‐based methods can help to detect and identify the phases of adsorbate confined in transparent nanoporous hosts. Needing no a priori knowledge about the characteristics of pores and not relying on any modeling or simulation of adsorption, the presented approach is promising to characterize the adsorption mechanisms in mesoporous and microporous materials.
On the derivation of a general thermodynamic expression for the reaction rate constant for cosolvent reaction systems
Authors: Wiseman F. L. , Scott D. W. , Tamine J. , O'Connell R. , Smarra A. , Mitchell N. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThis article presents the derivation of the thermodynamic expressions for the activation free energy and reaction rate constant for cosolvent reaction systems. These expressions account for the factors that are specific to solution‐phase reactions, which include isotropic electrostatic effects and close‐range solvent−solute interactions. This article discusses the idea that electrostatic effects can be correlated with the isotropic relative permittivity, and solvent−solute interactions can be correlated with the cosolvent mole fraction. This article also shows that this type of thermodynamic analysis is necessary for understanding certain nuances of solution‐phase reaction processes not tractable by other types of analyses.
A calibration/validation protocol for long/multi‐pathlength capillary waveguide spectrometers
Authors: Cartisano Carmen M. , Del Vecchio Rossana , Blough Neil V. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractLong/multi‐pathlength spectrometers are being employed increasingly in ocean science, but detailed calibration/validation protocols for these instruments remain unavailable. The lack of such protocols has led to the collection of absorption data from different instruments that are not always comparable. The goal of this work was to develop procedures that improve inter‐laboratory data reproducibility and accuracy. A World Precision Instrument (WPI) multi‐pathlength liquid capillary waveguide spectrometer along with a Shimadzu dual‐beam spectrometer were employed to evaluate the proposed protocols, which address the following issues: (1) sample cross‐contamination due to improper cell cleaning, (2) nonstandardized sample preparation, (3) errors in effective pathlength determination, and (4) offsets due to refractive index effects (i.e., high‐salinity samples). Effective pathlength calculation is critical given that the measured and manufacturer provided pathlengths can differ significantly, with the provided pathlengths resulting in data with large variation (up to 21%) and percent error (up to 33%) when employing different pathlengths. When these proposed protocols were applied, we found that the WPI spectrometer's precision (measured as a coefficient of variation) was < 0.6% for intra‐day measurements and < 1.5% for inter‐day measurements, and there was < 2% error in absorbance measurements. These procedures allowed for the correction of the significant baseline offsets caused by differences in refractive index between reference and sample, by either subtracting a collected or a generated reference spectrum that matches the offset. Our results indicate that employing the procedures described herein will provide accurate, reproducible, and pathlength‐independent absorption data.
UV Light–Responsive Peptide‐Based Supramolecular Hydrogel for Controlled Drug Delivery
Authors: Roth‐Konforti Michal E. , Comune Michela , Halperin‐Sternfeld Michal , Grigoriants Irena , Shabat Doron , Adler‐Abramovich Lihi 
Published: October 2018

AbstractLow‐molecular‐weight self‐assembled peptides may serve as promising hydrogelators for drug delivery applications by changing their structural network in response to external stimuli. Herein, inspired by the well‐studied low‐molecular‐weight peptide hydrogelator, fluorenyl‐methoxycarbonyl‐diphenylalanine (Fmoc‐FF), a novel peptide is designed and synthesized to include an ultraviolet (UV)‐sensitive phototrigger. Similar to Fmoc‐FF, 6‐nitroveratryloxycarbonyl‐diphenylalanine (Nvoc‐FF) self‐assembles to form a 3D, self‐supporting, nanofibrous hydrogel. The Nvoc‐FF hydrogel exhibits good mechanical properties with a storage modulus of 40 kPa. UV irradiation of the Nvoc‐FF hydrogel encapsulating insulin‐fluorescein isothiocyanate (insulin‐FITC) results in the cleavage of Nvoc‐FF peptide to produce unmasked FF, thereby facilitating the degradation of the hydrogel and the release of insulin‐FITC. This release is in linear correlation to the irradiation time. In the present study, a first insight into this rigid, fibrous, light‐responsive hydrogel is provided, allowing the fabrication of a novel drug delivery system for controlled release of large molecules.
The role of microstructural morphology on creep properties of a [0 0 1] oriented nickel‐base single crystal superalloy
Authors: Wang X.M. , Wang X.Z. , Wang Y. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe experimentally observed microstructure of nickel‐base single crystal alloy consists of a large volume of cuboidal γ′ precipitates coherently embedded in the γ matrix. In calculation, a representative volume element is usually used to represent the whole structures due to the regular γ/γ′ topological structures. Here, three experimentally found microstructures have been extracted to generate the representative volume elements. One is constituted by one cuboidal γ′ phase surrounded by γ phase. The other two consisted of two cuboidal γ′ phases and one rectangle γ′ phase with different arrangement of the two γ′ phases. The misfit stress is taken into consideration by different thermal expansion coefficients of the two phases. The influences of different microstructures on the macro‐creep strain evolution, rafting and stress distributions are discussed.
Formation and microstructure of quasicrystals in suction cast Al‐6 wt.% Mn alloys with additions of nickel and iron elements
Authors: Chen Z. , Xie B. , Fan Q. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractThe formation and microstructure of quasicrystals in suction cast Al‐6 wt.% Mn‐2 wt.% TM (TM = Ni, Fe) alloys were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and X‐ray diffraction. The suction cast Al‐6 wt.% Mn‐2 wt.% Ni alloy consists of a single decagonal phase of Al56Mn11Ni2, whereas the Al‐6 wt.% Mn alloy with 2 wt.% iron addition comprises a primitive icosahedral phase and a decagonal phase of Al40Mn7Fe2. Thus, the addition of nickel or iron favors quasicrystal formation in the suction cast Al‐6 wt.% Mn alloys. Based on a 4 : 1 matching ratio of aluminum atoms to heavier atoms, the approximate electron to atom ratio is 1.85 in two decagonal phases of Al56Mn11Ni2 and Al40Mn7Fe2. Various morphologies of quasicrystals with a size of more than 5 μm were observed in the microstructure of suction cast Al‐6 wt.% Mn‐2 wt.% TM (TM = Ni, Fe) alloys. The decagonal Al40Mn7Fe2 phase nucleates epitaxially and grows on the icosahedral phase.
Investigation on low cycle fatigue of nickel‐based single crystal turbine blade in different regions
Authors: Li Z. , Wen Z. , Gao H. , Wu Y. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractLow cycle fatigue experiments of nickel‐based single crystal superalloy miniature specimens were carried out at 760 °C/1000 MPa and 980 °C/750 MPa. According to testing results, low cycle fatigue life is dependent on sampling position of turbine blade under same test conditions. Fracture surface morphology and longitudinal profile microstructure indicated that the fracture mechanism transformed from cleavage fracture to ductile fracture with the changing of medium temperature to high temperature due to the particle cutting at yield stress intensity. The scanning electron microscopy observation of original material demonstrated that the smaller precipitate size of samples have a shorter fatigue life. Meanwhile, the constitutive model considering size effect was built based on the crystal plastic theory. The finite element analysis demonstrated that the smaller precipitate size could dramatically reduce the plastic deformation suffering the same cycle loading.
Modeling and experimental study for horizontal twin‐roll casting of copper/aluminum clad sheet
Authors: Mao Z. P. , Xie J. P. , Wang A. Q. , Wang W. Y. , Ma D. Q. 
Published: October 2018

AbstractA mathematical model has been developed and validated for the horizontal twin‐roll casting of copper/aluminum clad sheet. The influences of the heat transfer coefficient for copper/roll interface, casting speed and clad sheet thickness on the sump depth and temperature distribution of the copper/aluminum interface were studied. The interface morphologies and chemical compositions of the intermetallic compound layers were analyzed. The results showed the sump depth decreased with the increase of heat transfer coefficient for copper/roll interface and moved to the outlet with the increase of the casting speed. Casting speed was linear with the sump depth ratio to set‐back distance on the centerline for different clad sheet thicknesses. The thickness of the intermetallic compound layer increased with the increase of the clad sheet thickness. Only Al2Cu layer formed on the copper/aluminum interface with clad sheet thickness of 6 mm, and the second layer of Al4Cu9 formed near the copper side with the increase of the thickness.