bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hospital Surge Capacity during Expo 2015 in Milano, Italy
Authors: Faccincani Roberto , Della Corte Francesco , Sesana Giovanni , Stucchi Riccardo , Weinstein Eric , Ashkenazi Itamar , Ingrassia Pierluigi 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIntroductionHospital Acute Care Surge Capacity (HACSC), Hospital Acute Care Surge Threshold (HACST), and Total Hospital Capacity (THC) are scales that were developed to quantify surge capacity in the event of a multiple-casualty incident (MCI). These scales take into consideration the need for adequate care for both critical (T1) and moderate (T2) trauma patients. The objective of this study was to verify the validity of these scales in nine hospitals of the Milano (Italy) metropolitan area that prepared for a possible MCI during EXPO 2015.MethodsBoth HACSC and HACST were computed for individual hospitals. These were compared to surge capacities declared by individual hospitals during EXPO 2015, and also to surge capacity evaluated during a simulation organized on August 23, 2016.ResultsBoth HACSC and HACST were smaller compared to capacities measured and reported by the hospitals, as well as those found during the simulation. This resulted in significant differences in THC when this was computed from the different methods of calculation.Conclusions:Surge capacity is dependent on the method of measurement. Each method has its inherent deficiencies. Until more reliable methodologies are developed, there is a benefit to analyze surge capacity using several methods rather than just one. Emergency committee members should be aware of the importance of critical resources when looking to the hospital capacity to respond to an MCI, and to the possibility to effectively increase it with a good preparedness plan. Since hospital capacity during real events is not static but dynamic, largely depending on occupation of the available resources, it is important that the regional command center and the hospitals receiving casualties constantly communicate on specific agreed upon critical resources, in order for the regional command center to timely evaluate the overall regional capacity and guarantee the appropriate distribution of the patients.FaccincaniR,Della CorteF,SesanaG,StucchiR,WeinsteinE,AshkenaziI,IngrassiaP.Hospital surge capacity during Expo 2015 in Milano, Italy.Prehosp Disaster Med.2018;33(5):459–465.
Thai tax reforms from 1992 to 2013: the problems of tax systems in developing countries
Authors: Matsumoto Tomoko 
Published: August 2018

AbstractTaxation is considered an important reason for the persistent inequality in developing countries. Developing countries tend to rely heavily on revenue from regressive taxation on consumption, such as the value-added tax, and fail to use progressive income taxes for revenue. Thailand is a typical case of those developing countries. Scholars argue that the median voter model does not apply to the developing countries because their ineffective income taxation results from the weak representation of the poor. A close examination of tax politics in Thailand, however, demonstrates that the low revenue from income taxation in Thailand is attributed to the strong representation of the poor rather than the weak one. This study details the process of Thai tax reform based on interviews with policymakers in Bangkok. It traces changes in the country's tax regulations and uses tax data collected at both the local and national level. Tax reforms, particularly those on income taxes after the 1997 financial crisis, have resulted in a decreased tax burden on the poor as well as the rich.
Methods for generating coherent distortion risk measures
Authors: Samanthi Ranadeera G.M. , Sepanski Jungsywan 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThis paper presents methods for generating new distortion functions utilising distribution functions and composite distribution functions. To ensure the coherency of the corresponding distortion risk measures, the concavity of the proposed distortion functions is established by restricting the parameter space of the generating distribution. Closed-form expressions for risk measures are derived for some cases. Numerical and graphical results are presented to demonstrate the effects of parameter values on the risk measures for exponential, Pareto and log-normal losses. In addition, we apply the proposed distortion functions to derive risk measures for a segregated fund guarantee.
Like father like daughter: sex-specific parent-of-origin effects in the transmission of liability for psychotic symptoms to offspring
Authors: Aylott A. , Zwicker A. , MacKenzie L. E. , Cumby J. , Propper L. , Abidi S. , Bagnell A. , Fisher H. L. , Pavlova B. , Alda M. , Uher R. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractChildren of parents with major mood and psychotic disorders are at increased risk of psychopathology, including psychotic symptoms. It has been suggested that the risk of psychosis may be more often transmitted from parent to opposite-sex offspring (e.g., from father to daughter) than to same-sex offspring (e.g., from father to son). To test whether sex-specific transmission extends to early manifestations of psychosis, we examined sex-specific contributions to psychotic symptoms among offspring of mothers and fathers with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. We assessed psychotic symptoms in 309 offspring (160 daughters and 149 sons) aged 8–24 years (mean=13.1, s.d.=4.3), of whom 113 had a mother with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression and 43 had a father with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression. In semi-structured interviews, 130 (42%) offspring had definite psychotic symptoms established and confirmed by psychiatrists on one or more assessments. We tested the effects of mental illness in parents on same-sex and opposite-sex offspring psychotic symptoms in mixed-effect logistic regression models. Psychotic symptoms were more prevalent among daughters of affected fathers and sons of affected mothers than among offspring of the same sex as their affected parent. Mental illness in the opposite-sex parent increased the odds of psychotic symptoms (odds ratio (OR)=2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43–4.91, P=0.002), but mental illness in the same-sex parent did not have a significant effect on psychotic symptoms in offspring (OR=1.13, 95% CI 0.61–2.07, P=0.697). The opposite-sex-specific parent-of-origin effects may suggest X chromosome-linked genetic transmission or inherited chromosomal modifications in the etiology of psychotic symptoms.
Calling Mogadishu: How Reminders of Anarchy Bias Survey Participation
Authors: Denny Elaine K. , Driscoll Jesse 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHow does the fear of anarchy affect telephone survey behaviors? A survey experiment administered to a sample of Mogadishu residents—validated with a natural experiment—is used to assess this question. Randomly assigned reminders of anarchic violence conditioned differential effects on survey participation depending on subjects’ background level of security and welfare. Vulnerable subjects were more likely than non-vulnerable subjects to refuse to provide sensitive survey information after reminders of anarchy.
A Sharper Picture of the Moon's Bombardment History From Gravity Data
Authors: Nimmo F. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSome large impact basins on the Moon are covered with younger basalts, making it hard to determine their age by crater counting. Evans et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JE005421) use Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory gravity data to identify buried craters larger than 90 km and construct a relative chronology for the impact basins. This relative chronology is broadly consistent with the degree to which the basins have relaxed: Older basins tend to be more relaxed. Pre‐Nectarian basins are likely saturated, so the roughly constant measured crater density does not require a brief formation interval. Some of the results of Evans et al. (2018) are at odds with other determinations; for example, they suggest that Imbrium could be older than Crisium, and Serenitatis as young as Imbrium.
Human menstrual blood-derived stem cells promote functional recovery in a rat spinal cord hemisection model
Authors: Wu Qinfeng , Wang Qinghua , Li Zhangjie , Li Xiangzhe , Zang Jing , Wang Zhangwei , Xu Chen , Gong Yujia , Cheng Jiaqi , Li Haoming , Shen Guangyu , Dong Chuanming 
Published: August 2018

AbstractSpinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with a dismal prognosis including severe voluntary motor and sensory deficits in the presence of the current therapies, thus new and efficient treatment strategies are desperately required. Along with several advantages, such as easy accessibility, high-yield, potential of enormous proliferation, menstrual blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MenSCs) have been proposed as a promising strategy in regeneration medicine. In this study, the MenSCs were transplanted into incomplete thoracic (T10) spinal cord injury (SCI) rats, all rats were sacrificed at 7, 14, and 28 days after surgery. Based on the results, we found that MenSCs transplantation improved the hind limb motor function. Besides, H&E staining showed that MenSCs treatment markedly reduced cavity formation in the lesion site. Furthermore, treatment by MenSCs showed more MAP2-positive mature neurons, as well as axonal regeneration manifested by NF-200 and less expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) than the non-treatment in the lesion site. Additionally, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and qRT-PCR methods showed that levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were significantly higher in the injured spinal cord after implantation of MenSCs. Results of qRT-PCR indicated that inflammatory factors, including TNF-α and IL-1β were inhibited after MenSCs transplantation. The improved motor function of hind limb and the increased cell body area of motor neurons were suppressed by blocking of the BDNF-TrkB signaling. It was eventually revealed that MenSCs implantation had beneficial therapeutic effects on the rehabilitation of the rat spinal cord hemisection model, mainly by enhancing the expression of BDNF. MenSCs transplantation may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with SCI in the future.
Autophagy exacerbates electrical remodeling in atrial fibrillation by ubiquitin-dependent degradation of L-type calcium channel
Authors: Yuan Yue , Zhao Jing , Gong Yongtai , Wang Dingyu , Wang Xiaoyu , Yun Fengxiang , Liu Zhaorui , Zhang Song , Li Wenpeng , Zhao Xinbo , Sun Li , Sheng Li , Pan Zhenwei , Li Yue 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAutophagy, a bidirectional degradative process extensively occurring in eukaryotes, has been revealed as a potential therapeutic target for several cardiovascular diseases. However, its role in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the role of autophagy in atrial electrical remodeling under AF condition. Here, we reported that autophagic flux was markedly activated in atria of persistent AF patients and rabbit model of atrial rapid pacing (RAP). We also observed that the key autophagy-related gene7 (ATG7) significantly upregulated in AF patients as well as tachypacing rabbits. Moreover, lentivirus-mediated ATG7 knockdown and overexpression in rabbits were employed to clarify the effects of autophagy on atrial electrophysiology via intracardiac operation and patch-clamp experiments. Lentivirus-mediated ATG7 knockdown or autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) restored the shortened atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and alleviated the AF vulnerability caused by tachypacing in rabbits. Conversely, ATG7 overexpression significantly promoted the incidence and persistence of AF and decreased L-type calcium channel (Cav1.2 α-subunits), along with abbreviated action potential duration (APD) and diminished L-type calcium current (ICa,L). Furthermore, the co-localization and interaction of Cav1.2 with LC3B-positive autophagosomes enhanced when autophagy was activated in atrial myocytes. Tachypacing-induced autophagic degradation of Cav1.2 required ubiquitin signal through the recruitment of ubiquitin-binding proteins RFP2 and p62, which guided Cav1.2 to autophagosomes. These findings suggest that autophagy induces atrial electrical remodeling via ubiquitin-dependent selective degradation of Cav1.2 and provide a novel and promising strategy for preventing AF development.
Binder driven self-assembly of metal-organic cubes towards functional hydrogels
Authors: Sutar Papri , Suresh Venkata M. , Jayaramulu Kolleboyina , Hazra Arpan , Maji Tapas Kumar 
Published: August 2018

AbstractThe process of assembling astutely designed, well-defined metal-organic cube (MOC) into hydrogel by using a suitable molecular binder is a promising method for preparing processable functional soft materials. Here, we demonstrate charge-assisted H-bonding driven hydrogel formation from Ga3+-based anionic MOC ((Ga8(ImDC)12)12−) and molecular binders, like, ammonium ion (NH4+), N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine, guanidine hydrochloride and β-alanine. The morphology of the resulting hydrogel depends upon the size, shape and geometry of the molecular binder. Hydrogel with NH4+ shows nanotubular morphology with negative surface charge and is used for gel-chromatographic separation of cationic species from anionic counterparts. Furthermore, a photo-responsive luminescent hydrogel is prepared using a cationic tetraphenylethene-based molecular binder (DATPE), which is employed as a light harvesting antenna for tuning emission colour including pure white light. This photo-responsive hydrogel is utilized for writing and preparing flexible light-emitting display.
Local enrichment of HP1alpha at telomeres alters their structure and regulation of telomere protection
Authors: Chow Tracy T. , Shi Xiaoyu , Wei Jen-Hsuan , Guan Juan , Stadler Guido , Huang Bo , Blackburn Elizabeth H. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractEnhanced telomere maintenance is evident in malignant cancers. While telomeres are thought to be inherently heterochromatic, detailed mechanisms of how epigenetic modifications impact telomere protection and structures are largely unknown in human cancers. Here we develop a molecular tethering approach to experimentally enrich heterochromatin protein HP1α specifically at telomeres. This results in increased deposition of H3K9me3 at cancer cell telomeres. Telomere extension by telomerase is attenuated, and damage-induced foci at telomeres are reduced, indicating augmentation of telomere stability. Super-resolution STORM imaging shows an unexpected increase in irregularity of telomeric structure. Telomere-tethered chromo shadow domain (CSD) mutant I165A of HP1α abrogates both the inhibition of telomere extension and the irregularity of telomeric structure, suggesting the involvement of at least one HP1α-ligand in mediating these effects. This work presents an approach to specifically manipulate the epigenetic status locally at telomeres to uncover insights into molecular mechanisms underlying telomere structural dynamics.
Bioinspired ultra-stretchable and anti-freezing conductive hydrogel fibers with ordered and reversible polymer chain alignment
Authors: Zhao Xue , Chen Fang , Li Yuanheng , Lu Han , Zhang Ning , Ma Mingming 
Published: August 2018

AbstractHigh-performance stretchable conductive fibers are desired for the development of stretchable electronic devices. Here we show a simple spinning method to prepare conductive hydrogel fibers with ordered polymer chain alignment that mimics the hierarchically organized structure of spider silk. The as-prepared sodium polyacrylate hydrogel fiber is further coated with a thin layer of polymethyl acrylate to form a core–shell water-resistant MAPAH fiber. Owing to the coexistence and reversible transformation of crystalline and amorphous domains in the fibers, MAPAH fibers exhibit high tensile strength, large stretchability and fast resilience from large strain. MAPAH fiber can serve as a highly stretchable wire with a conductive hydrogel core and an insulating cover. The stretchability and conductivity of the MAPAH fiber are retained at −35 °C, indicating its anti-freezing property. As a prime example of stretchable conductive fibers, MAPAH fibers will shed light on the design of next generation textile-based stretchable electronic devices.
Consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions accounting with capital stock change highlights dynamics of fast-developing countries
Authors: Chen Zhan-Ming , Ohshita Stephanie , Lenzen Manfred , Wiedmann Thomas , Jiborn Magnus , Chen Bin , Lester Leo , Guan Dabo , Meng Jing , Xu Shiyun , Chen Guoqian , Zheng Xinye , Xue JinJun , Alsaedi Ahmed , Hayat Tasawar , Liu Zhu 
Published: August 2018

AbstractTraditional consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions accounting attributed the gap between consumption-based and production-based emissions to international trade. Yet few attempts have analyzed the temporal deviation between current emissions and future consumption, which can be explained through changes in capital stock. Here we develop a dynamic model to incorporate capital stock change in consumption-based accounting. The new model is applied using global data for 1995–2009. Our results show that global emissions embodied in consumption determined by the new model are smaller than those obtained from the traditional model. The emissions embodied in global capital stock increased steadily during the period. However, capital plays very different roles in shaping consumption-based emissions for economies with different development characteristics. As a result, the dynamic model yields similar consumption-based emissions estimation for many developed countries comparing with the traditional model, but it highlights the dynamics of fast-developing countries.
Engineered bidirectional promoters enable rapid multi-gene co-expression optimization
Authors: Vogl Thomas , Kickenweiz Thomas , Pitzer Julia , Sturmberger Lukas , Weninger Astrid , Biggs Bradley W. , Köhler Eva-Maria , Baumschlager Armin , Fischer Jasmin Elgin , Hyden Patrick , Wagner Marlies , Baumann Martina , Borth Nicole , Geier Martina , Ajikumar Parayil Kumaran , Glieder Anton 
Published: August 2018

AbstractNumerous synthetic biology endeavors require well-tuned co-expression of functional components for success. Classically, monodirectional promoters (MDPs) have been used for such applications, but MDPs are limited in terms of multi-gene co-expression capabilities. Consequently, there is a pressing need for new tools with improved flexibility in terms of genetic circuit design, metabolic pathway assembly, and optimization. Here, motivated by nature’s use of bidirectional promoters (BDPs) as a solution for efficient gene co-expression, we generate a library of 168 synthetic BDPs in the yeast Komagataella phaffii (syn. Pichia pastoris), leveraging naturally occurring BDPs as a parts repository. This library of synthetic BDPs allows for rapid screening of diverse expression profiles and ratios to optimize gene co-expression, including for metabolic pathways (taxadiene, β-carotene). The modular design strategies applied for creating the BDP library could be relevant in other eukaryotic hosts, enabling a myriad of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology applications.
H-bonded reusable template assisted para-selective ketonisation using soft electrophilic vinyl ethers
Authors: Maji Arun , Dahiya Amit , Lu Gang , Bhattacharya Trisha , Brochetta Massimo , Zanoni Giuseppe , Liu Peng , Maiti Debabrata 
Published: August 2018

AbstractIn nature, enzymatic pathways generate Caryl−C(O) bonds in a site-selective fashion. Synthetically, Caryl−C(O) bonds are synthesised in organometallic reactions using prefunctionalized substrate materials. Electrophilic routes are largely limited to electron-rich systems, non-polar medium, and multiple product formations with a limited scope of general application. Herein we disclose a directed para-selective ketonisation technique of arenes, overriding electronic bias and structural congestion, in the presence of a polar protic solvent. The concept of hard–soft interaction along with in situ activation techniques is utilised to suppress the competitive routes. Mechanistic pathways are investigated both experimentally and computationally to establish the hypothesis. Synthetic utility of the protocol is highlighted in formal synthesis of drugs, drug cores, and bioactive molecules.
Morphological instability of aqueous dissolution of silicate glasses and minerals
Authors: Wang Yifeng , Jove-Colon Carlos F. , Lenting Christoph , Icenhower Jonathan , Kuhlman Kristopher L. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractUnderstanding of aqueous dissolution of silicate glasses and minerals is of great importance to both Earth and materials sciences. Silicate dissolution exhibits complex temporal evolution and rich pattern formations. Recently, we showed how observed complexity could emerge from a simple self-organizational mechanism: dissolution of the silica framework in a material could be catalyzed by the cations released from the reaction itself. This mechanism enables us to systematically predict many key features of a silicate dissolution process including the occurrence of a sharp corrosion front (vs. a leached surface layer), oscillatory dissolution and multiple stages of the alteration process (e.g., an alteration rate resumption at a late stage of glass dissolution). Here, through a linear stability analysis, we show that the same mechanism can also lead to morphological instability of an alteration front, which, in combination with oscillatory dissolution, can potentially lead to a whole suite of patterning phenomena, as observed on archaeological glass samples as well as in laboratory experiments, including wavy dissolution fronts, growth rings, incoherent bandings of alteration products, and corrosion pitting. The result thus further demonstrates the importance of the proposed self-accelerating mechanism in silicate material degradation.
A Multiplex PCR/LDR Assay for Viral Agents of Diarrhea with the Capacity to Genotype Rotavirus
Authors: Mirza Aashiq H. , Das Sanchita , Pingle Maneesh R. , Rundell Mark S. , Armah George , Gyan Ben , Hodinka Richard L. , Larone Davise H. , Spitzer Eric D. , Barany Francis , Golightly Linnie M. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractRotavirus and noroviruses are major causes of diarrhea. Variable rotavirus vaccination efficacy in Africa and Asia is multifactorial, including the diversity of circulating strains and viral co-infection. We describe a multiplexed assay that detects and genotypes viruses from stool specimens. It includes a one-step reverse transcriptase PCR reaction, a ligase detection reaction (LDR), then hybridization of fluorescent products to micro-beads. In clinical samples it detects rotavirus, caliciviruses (sapovirus and norovirus), mixed infections, and genotypes or genogroups of rotaviruses and noroviruses, respectively. The assay also has the capacity to detect hepatitis A. The assay was validated on reference isolates and 296 stool specimens from the US and Ghana. The assay was 97% sensitive and 100% specific. The genogroup was concordant in 100% of norovirus, and the genotype in 91% and 89% of rotavirus G- and P-types, respectively. Two rare rotavirus strains, G6P[6] and G6P[8], were detected in stool specimens from Ghana. The high-throughput assay is sensitive, specific, and may be of utility in the epidemiological surveillance for rare and emerging viral strains post-rotavirus vaccine implementation.