bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of Private Health Expenditure on the Economic Growth of Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Naeem 
Published: December 2024

Aim of the Study: This study examines the influence of private health expenditures on Pakistan's economic growth.
Methodology: This study took data from 1985 to 2019, utilizing an ARDL approach and various econometric methods to conclude. The model applied in this study is structured around a specific theoretical framework. The growth equation, extending the basic neoclassical growth model, follows Barro (1996) as developed by Bloom and Canning (2004) and subsequently used by other researchers.
Findings: Findings reveal a significant negative relationship between age dependency and current health expenditure on economic growth, while private health expenditure and population demonstrate a strong positive effect on growth. Private health expenditures promote healthy human capital which results in economic growth.
Conclusion: Pakistan's health sector is substantially impacted by population dynamics, and although health expenditures are generally progressive, some subcategories at provincial and regional levels show a regressive trend. The private sector plays a critical role in health service provision, influenced by either government policy or the absence thereof.
Réflexions sur le patrimoine documentaire publié : le cas des collections de la Bibliothèque nationale à BAnQ
Authors: Lefebvre Michèle 
Published: December 2024

Les bibliothécaires chargés de rendre accessible et de valoriser le patrimoine documentaire publié font face à de nombreux enjeux. Parmi ceux-ci, on peut signaler le manque de formation et de publications sur le sujet, la relative indifférence du public et des décideurs devant ce patrimoine plutôt méconnu, la nécessité de concilier les missions de conservation et de diffusion de ces collections, l’avènement du numérique qui dématérialise le patrimoine et le multiplie, et enfin les exigences particulières du travail de médiation, en perpétuelle évolution et requérant un savoir-faire à la fois spécialisé et polymorphe. Pour réfléchir à ces enjeux, l’autrice se penchera plus particulièrement sur le cas des collections de la Bibliothèque nationale conservées au sein de Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ).
Comparative leaf anatomy of two species of Ipomoea L. (Convolvulaceae): taxonomic importance and adaptations to xeric conditions of the cangas
Authors: Silva Joyce C. R. , Silva Kleber R. , Caldeira Cecilio F. , Oriani Aline , Watanabe Mauricio T. C. 
Published: December 2024

Background
Accurate species identification is the first step towards establishing conservation strategies, especially regarding rare and threatened species, such as those studied here. Moreover, understanding the responses to the environment and growing conditions of endemic species is necessary for its conservation. This study compares the leaf anatomy of Ipomoea cavalcantei and I. marabaensis, which grow on the Brazilian ironstone outcrops (cangas) and exhibit morphological convergence.

Methods
Leaf anatomical characters of the species were described. Additionally, the leaf adaptive potential of I. cavalcantei was evaluated, comparing individuals grown in natural canga areas (in situ) and cultivated in topsoil (ex situ). Quantitative analysis evaluated stomatal density, polar and equatorial diameter of stomata, and thickness of the epidermis and mesophyll.

Results
Ipomoea cavalcantei and I. marabaensis can be distinguished by the mesophyll type. Ipomoea marabaensis is also characterized by the presence of lateral protuberances on the abaxial surface of the midrib. Individuals of I. cavalcantei under cultivation have lower stomatal density, although their functionality (polar/equatorial diameter) is more significant than those grown in a natural environment; these individuals also exhibit leaves with a thinner cuticle, abaxial epidermal cells with more sinuous walls, a lower occurrence of trichomes and secretory cells (laticifers), and more druse-containing idioblasts in the mesophyll. All these traits are adaptations to growing conditions that include lower light and the absence of water stress.

Conclusions
Leaf anatomical traits showed to be useful to delimit Ipomoea cavalcantei and I. marabaensis in the non-reproductive stage. For individuals of I. cavalcantei cultivated in topsoil, some features, especially of the epidermis, respond to light and water supply.
Construction and validation of a predictive model for the risk of malnutrition in hospitalized patients over 65 years of age with malignant tumours: a single-centre retrospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Xuexing , Chu Jie , Wei Chunmei , Xu Jinsong , He Yuan , Chen Chunmei 
Published: December 2024

Background
Nutritional status is a critical indicator of overall health in individuals suffering from malignant tumours, reflecting the complex interplay of various contributing factors. This research focused on identifying and analysing the factors influencing malnutrition among older patients aged ≥65 with malignant tumours and aimed to develop a comprehensive risk model for predicting malnutrition.

Methods
This study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 3,387 older inpatients aged ≥65 years with malignant tumours collected at our hospital from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023. The dataset was subsequently divided into training and validation sets at an 8:2 ratio. The nutritional status of these patients was evaluated using the Nutritional Risk Screening Tool 2002 (NRS-2002) and the 2018 Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) Standards for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Based on these assessments, patients were categorized into either malnutrition or non-malnutrition groups. Subsequently, a risk prediction model was developed and presented through a nomogram for practical application.

Results
The analysis encompassed 2,715 individuals in the development cohort and 672 in the validation cohort, with a malnutrition prevalence of 40.42%. A significant positive correlation between the incidence of malnutrition and age was observed. Independent risk factors identified included systemic factors, tumour staging (TNM stage), age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score, history of alcohol consumption, co-infections, presence of ascites or pleural effusion, haemoglobin (HGB) levels, creatinine (Cr), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). The predictive model exhibited areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.793 (95% confidence interval (CI) [0.776–0.810]) for the development cohort and 0.832 (95% CI [0.801–0.863]) for the validation cohort. Calibration curves indicated Brier scores of 0.186 and 0.190, while the Hosmer–Lemeshow test yielded chi-square values of 5.633 and 2.875, respectively (P > 0.05). Decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated the model’s clinical applicability and superiority over the NRS-2002, highlighting its potential for valuable clinical application.

Conclusion
This study successfully devised a straightforward and efficient prediction model for malnutrition among older patients aged 65 and above with malignant tumours. The model represents a significant advancement as a clinical tool for identifying individuals at high risk of malnutrition, enabling early intervention with targeted nutritional support and improving patient outcomes.
Different Sources of Nitrogen for Rice Prouction: A Review
Authors: Thapa Nisha 
Published: December 2024

Rice is the most important agricultural product in the country's economy. Nitrogen fertilization is a fundamental agronomic technique influencing rice crop yield and quality. Under the R-W system, crop yield declines and soil fertility gradually decreases when artificial N fertilizers are used without organic sources. Not only is the right fertilizer dosage critical for achieving the best results, but the timely application of nitrogen is also essential. Inorganic Nitrogen sources (NCU, PU, BU, Nano Urea) known to show quick results and organic Nitrogen sources (FYM, Poultry manure, Vermicompost, Green manure, Jeevamrutha, Biofertilizers) being slow-releasing and eco-friendly combined use of these sources has shown good results. Nitrogen must be applied as much as possible during the early and mid-tillering stages to maximize the number of panicles and during the reproductive stage to produce the ideal number of spikelets per panicle and % of filled spikelets.
Biodiversity of Aspergillus Species and Aflatoxin Contamination in Stored Cereals and Legumes in Cameroon
Authors: Dongmo Landry Thierry Voukeng , Mahot Hermine , Dida Sylver Landry Lontsi , Gbaporo Fabrice Christian Gbaporo , Zemko Patrice Ngatsi , Ngata Laurence Ngadjui , Sanama Nathalie Mbega , Ambang Zachée , Boyomo Onana 
Published: December 2024

In cereal and legume grains, the presence of Aspergillus spp. and their aflatoxins induce huge economic losses, health problems and environmental problems during storage. Thanks to their mycotoxins, Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium cause losses of up to 25% of agricultural production worldwide, and 50% in developing countries. The aim of this work is to identify Aspergillus spp. isolated from maize, soybean, rice and peanut grains in storage, while examining their aflatoxin contamination levels. To this end, 25 composite samples of each grain were systematically collected from the five agro-ecological zones (AEZ) of Cameroon. Morphological characterization of Aspergillus spp. isolates was carried out using various specific culture media. Aflatoxin determination was carried out using standard aflatoxin extraction and ELISA strip quantification. The results show that, of the 100 composite samples collected, 99% were contaminated by a wide variety of molds, with a prevalence of 334/745 or 44.83% of Aspergillus spp. Of the Aspergillus spp. isolates obtained, 21.85% were derived from peanuts, 27.84% from rice, 21.56% from maize and 28.74% from soybeans. Aspergillus prevalence varied with agro-ecological zones (AEZs), and the most affected zones were AEZ V with 31.73% Aspergillus spp. isolates, and AEZ III with 28.14% Aspergillus spp. isolates. Aspergillus diversity according to AEZs shows that section Flavi is the most represented with 33% of isolates, successively followed by sections Nigri, Fumigati, Terrei, Candidi and Circumdati with 27%, 16%, 6%, 6% and 6% respectively. Examination of the total aflatoxin contamination levels of the various grains showed that, irrespective of the foodstuffs and AEZs, aflatoxin contamination was 100%. However, the highest mean concentration of aflatoxin was recorded in AEZ V (9.63 µg/kg). By commodity, samples of maize (9.46 µg/kg) followed by rice (8.92 µg/kg) showed the highest aflatoxin levels in Cameroon. In the end, all the foodstuffs showed a very high diversity of Aspergillus, and all the aflatoxin levels exceeded the regulatory thresholds in force.
Identification of microRNAs involved in pathways which characterize the expression subtypes of NSCLC
Authors: Halvorsen Ann Rita , Ragle Aure Miriam , Õjlert Åsa Kristina , Brustugun Odd Terje , Solberg Steinar , Nebdal Daniel , Helland Åslaug 
Published: September 2019

Dysregulation of microRNAs is a common mechanism in the development of lung cancer, but the relationship between microRNAs and expression subtypes in non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is poorly explored. Here, we analyzed microRNA expression from 241 NSCLC samples and correlated this with the expression subtypes of adenocarcinomas (AD) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) to identify microRNAs specific for each subtype. Gene set variation analysis and the hallmark gene set were utilized to calculate gene set scores specific for each sample, and these were further correlated with the expression of the subtype‐specific microRNAs. In ADs, we identified nine aberrantly regulated microRNAs in the terminal respiratory unit (TRU), three in the proximal inflammatory (PI), and nine in the proximal proliferative subtype (PP). In SCCs, 1, 5, 5, and 9 microRNAs were significantly dysregulated in the basal, primitive, classical, and secretory subtypes, respectively. The subtype‐specific microRNAs were highly correlated to specific gene sets, and a distinct pattern of biological processes with high immune activity for the AD PI and SCC secretory subtypes, and upregulation of cell cycle‐related processes in AD PP, SCC primitive, and SCC classical subtypes were found. Severalin silicopredicted targets within the gene sets were identified for the subtype‐specific microRNAs, underpinning the findings. The results were significantly validated in the LUAD (n = 492) and LUSC (n = 380) TCGA dataset (False discovery rates‐correctedP‐value < 0.05). Our study provides novel insight into how expression subtypes determined with discrete biological processes may be regulated by subtype‐specific microRNAs. These results may have importance for the development of combinatory therapeutic strategies for lung cancer patients.
High‐Performance White Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes with High Efficiency, Low Efficiency Roll‐Off, and Superior Color Stability/Color Rendering Index by Strategic Design of Exciplex Hosts
Authors: Ying Shian , Xiao Shu , Yao Jingwen , Sun Qian , Dai Yanfeng , Yang Dezhi , Qiao Xianfeng , Chen Jiangshan , Zhu Tengfei , Ma Dongge 
Published: September 2019

AbstractWhite organic light‐emitting diodes (WOLEDs) are one of the most cogent candidates for environment friendly and healthy solid‐state lighting due to many unique merits. Here, a strategic design of exciplex hosts is applied to simultaneously realize the superior color stability, high color rendering index (CRI), high efficiency, and low efficiency roll‐off properties of WOLEDs. The resulting WOLEDs emit the forward‐viewing maximum power efficiency (PE) of 59.9 lm W−1, and the PE still remains 45.3 and 31.9 lm W−1 at 1000 and 5000 cd m−2, respectively, exhibiting extremely low efficiency roll‐off. More remarkably, the devices also show high CRI over 80 and extremely stable spectral emission in the luminance ranges from 1000 to 15 000 cd m−2. The excellent performances indicate the validity of the structure design and provide a new route for the development of high‐performance WOLEDs.
Enhanced Interfacial Binding and Electron Extraction Using Boron‐Doped TiO2 for Highly Efficient Hysteresis‐Free Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Shi Xiaoqiang , Ding Yong , Zhou Shijie , Zhang Bing , Cai Molang , Yao Jianxi , Hu Linhua , Wu Jihuai , Dai Songyuan , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Khaja 
Published: September 2019

AbstractPerovskite solar cells (PSCs) have witnessed astonishing improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE), more recently, with advances in long‐term stability and scalable fabrication. However, the presence of an anomalous hysteresis behavior in the current density–voltage characteristic of these devices remains a key obstacle on the road to commercialization. Herein, sol–gel‐processed mesoporous boron‐doped TiO2 (B‐TiO2) is demonstrated as an improved electron transport layer (ETL) for PSCs for the reduction of hysteresis. The incorporation of boron dopant in TiO2 ETL not only reduces the hysteresis behavior but also improves PCE of the perovskite device. The simultaneous improvements are mainly ascribed to the following two reasons. First, the substitution of under‐coordinated titanium atom by boron species effectively passivates oxygen vacancy defects in the TiO2 ETL, leading to increased electron mobility and conductivity, thereby greatly facilitating electron transport. Second, the boron dopant upshifts the conduction band edge of TiO2, resulting in more efficient electron extraction with suppressed charge recombination. Consequently, a methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) photovoltaic device based on B‐TiO2 ETL achieves a higher efficiency of 20.51% than the 19.06% of the pure TiO2 ETL based device, and the hysteresis is reduced from 0.13% to 0.01% with the B‐TiO2 based device showing negligible hysteresis behavior.
Combinatorial design of chemical‐dependent protein switches for controlling intracellular electron transfer
Authors: Wu Bingyan , Atkinson Joshua T. , Kahanda Dimithree , Bennett George N. , Silberg Jonathan J. 
Published: September 2019

AbstractOne challenge with controlling electron flow in cells is the lack of biomolecules that directly couple environmental sensing to electron transfer efficiency. To overcome this component limitation, we randomly inserted the ligand binding domain (LBD) from the estrogen receptor (ER) into a 2Fe‐2S ferredoxin (Fd) and used a bacterial selection to identify protein variants that support electron transfer in cells. Mapping LBD insertion sites onto structure revealed that Fd tolerates domain insertion adjacent to or within the tetracysteine motif that coordinates the 2Fe‐2S metallocluster. With both protein designs, cellular electron transfer (ET) was enhanced by the ER antagonist 4‐hydroxytamoxifen, albeit to different extents. One variant arising from ER‐LBD insertion within the tetracysteine motif acquired an oxygen‐tolerant 2Fe‐2S cluster, suggesting that ET is regulated through post‐translational ligand binding. These metalloprotein switches are expected to be useful for achieving fast regulation of ET in engineered metabolic pathways and between electroactive bacteria and conductive materials.
Differences in root phenology and water depletion by an invasive grass explains persistence in a Mediterranean ecosystem
Authors: Phillips Michala L. , McNellis Brandon E. , Allen Michael F. , Allen Edith B. 
Published: September 2019

PremiseFlexible phenological responses of invasive plants under climate change may increase their ability to establish and persist. A key aspect of plant phenology is the timing of root production, how it coincides with canopy development and subsequent water‐use. The timing of these events within species and across communities could influence the invasion process. We examined above‐ and belowground phenology of two species in southern California, the native shrub, Adenostoma fasciculatum, and the invasive perennial grass, Ehrharta calycina to investigate relative differences in phenology and water use.MethodsWe used normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to track whole‐canopy activity across the landscape and sap flux sensors on individual chaparral shrubs to assess differences in aboveground phenology of both species. To determine differences in belowground activity, we used soil moisture sensors, minirhizotron imagery, and stable isotopes.ResultsThe invasive grass depleted soil moisture earlier in the spring and produced longer roots at multiple depths earlier in the growing season than the native shrub. However, Adenostoma fasciculatum produced longer roots in the top 10 cm of soil profile in May. Aboveground activity of the two species peaked at the same time.ConclusionsThe fact that Ehrharta calycina possessed longer roots earlier in the season suggests that invasive plants may gain a competitive edge over native plants through early activity, while also depleting soil moisture earlier in the season. Depletion of soil moisture earlier by E. calycina suggests that invasive grasses could accelerate the onset of the summer drought in chaparral systems, assuring their persistence following invasion.
Homozygous variants in MAPRE2 and CDON in individual with skin folds, growth delay, retinal coloboma, and pyloric stenosis
Authors: Berkun Lina , Slae Mordechai , Mor‐Shaked Hagar , Koplewitz Benjamin , Eventov‐Friedman Smadar , Harel Tamar 
Published: September 2019

AbstractCases with multiple molecular diagnoses are challenging to diagnose clinically, yet may be resolved by unbiased exome sequencing analysis. We report an infant with developmental delay, severe growth delay, dysmorphic features, and multiple congenital anomalies including retinal coloboma, congenital pyloric stenosis, and circumferential skin creases. Exome sequencing identified a homozygous missense variant in MAPRE2 and a homozygous stopgain (nonsense) variant in CDON. Variants in MAPRE2, encoding a regulator of microtubule dynamics, lead to congenital symmetric circumferential skin creases type 2, with associated dysmorphism, small growth parameters, and congenital cardiac and genital anomalies. Monoallelic variants in CDON, encoding a coreceptor for sonic hedgehog, have been associated with autosomal dominant pituitary stalk interruption syndrome and holoprosencephaly. Cdon−/− mice have multiple eye defects including coloboma, consistent with the observed human phenotype. Thus, the complex phenotypic presentation of the infant may potentially be attributed to a dual molecular diagnosis. Furthermore, we present CDON as a candidate gene for coloboma formation in addition to the known holoprosencephaly phenotype, and propose to expand the allelic spectrum of CDON to variants associated with autosomal recessive inheritance in addition to dominant inheritance.
Electrochemically Facilitated Oxidative Coupling of Quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐Ones with Diarylphosphine Oxides and Pyrroles: A Green Protocol for C−P, C−C(sp2) Bond Formation
Authors: Hu Chen , Hong Gang , Zhou Chen , Tang Zhi‐Cong , Han Jian‐Wei , Wang Li‐Min 
Published: September 2019

AbstractA metal‐free and oxidant‐free protocol for oxidative coupling of quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones with diarylphosphine oxides and pyrroles via electrochemical dehydrogenation has been reported. A broad range of C3‐functionalized products were obtained in good to excellent yields.
Microencapsulation of oil soluble polyaspartic acid ester and isophorone diisocyanate and their application in self‐healing anticorrosive epoxy resin
Authors: Guo Maolian , He Yayue , Wang Jianping , Zhang Xingxiang , Li Wei 
Published: September 2019

ABSTRACTIsocyanate and amine solution are microencapsulated, respectively, via in situ polymerization to realize the self‐healing function in epoxy matrix. First, the isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) microcapsules prepared with different core/shell ratios, emulsifier dosages and emulsification rates are characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM). They exhibit integral spherical shape when the core/shell ratio is 3:1 and emulsifier concentration is 2.52 wt %, and the diameter of IPDI microcapsules ranged from 2.66 μm to 11.25 μm is manufactured by adjusting emulsification rate over the range of 3000–9000 rpm. Besides, during the microencapsulation of polyaspartic acid ester (PAE), urea, tung oil, as well as aqueous isocyanate are proposed to improve the stability of PAE emulsion. SEM and FTIR results reveal that aqueous isocyanate can react with partial PAE and form polyurea (PU) layer to take protection effectively. Further, IPDI‐PAE dual microcapsules are incorporated into epoxy coatings, the self‐healing and anticorrosion performance of coatings with various amounts of microcapsules are investigated systematically. It was found that the degree of repair and anticorrosion are increased with increasing microcapsules loading, and the appropriate amount of microcapsules addition is 15 wt %, which corresponding to 93% repair efficiency. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48478.