bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment of male stress urinary incontinence using autologous adipose‐derived regenerative cells: Long‐term efficacy and safety
Authors: Gotoh Momokazu , Yamamoto Tokunori , Shimizu Shinobu , Matsukawa Yoshihisa , Kato Masashi , Majima Tsuyoshi , Takai Shun , Funahashi Yasuhito , Toriyama Kazuhiro 
Published: December 2018

ObjectivesTo investigate the long‐term efficacy and safety of periurethral injection of autologous adipose‐derived regenerative cells for the treatment of post‐prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence.MethodsA total of 13 patients with persistent stress urinary incontinence after prostate surgery (radical prostatectomy, 10 patients; holmium laser enucleation of the prostate, three patients) underwent periurethral injection of adipose‐derived regenerative cells and were followed up for >4 years. A 24‐h pad test was carried out for four consecutive days in each evaluation period, and changes in the mean daily leakage volume during the 4 days from baseline to 60 months after treatment were evaluated.ResultsThe mean follow‐up period was 69 months (range 55–72 months). The mean leakage volume/24 h in all patients changed from 260.7 g to 152.7 g. Urinary incontinence progressively improved up to 12 months after treatment in 10 patients, who maintained improvement up to the final assessment, with the mean daily leakage volume decreasing from 281.5 g to 119.0 g (reduction rate 57.7%). The other three patients showed no improvement at 1 year and at the final assessment. After the perioperative period, significant adverse events or prostate‐specific antigen increase were not observed during long‐term follow up.ConclusionsThe present findings suggest that periurethral injection of autologous adipose‐derived regenerative cells is a safe and feasible treatment modality with long‐term efficacy for patients with male stress urinary incontinence caused by urethral sphincter deficiency.
Dermatology today and tomorrow: from symptom control to targeted therapy
Authors: Blume‐Peytavi U. , Bagot M. , Tennstedt D. , Saint Aroman M. , Stockfleth E. , Zlotogorski A. , Mengeaud V. , Schmitt A.M. , Paul C. , Lim H.W. , Georgescu V. , Dréno B. , Nocera T. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractFor many decades and until recently, medical approach to dermatologic diseases has been based on the physician's ability to recognize and treat symptoms. Nowadays, advances in the understanding of the biology of diseases and in technologies for intervening against them have allowed physicians to diagnose and treat underlying disease processes rather than simply addressing the symptoms. This means that rather than addressing ‘the disease in humans’, physicians can now address the particular pathologic (biologic, molecular) disturbance as it presents in the individual patient, i.e., physicians now can practice something much closer to ‘personalized medicine’, leading to greater benefits for the patients and the health of society in general. The deeper understanding of ultraviolet radiation, the importance of photoprotection and increased knowledge about signalling pathways of melanoma and carcinoma have led to more complete care for the dermatologic patient. The current popularity for excessive exposure to the sun, without adequate application of the appropriate photoprotection remedies, is the origin of melanoma, but also for the weakening of the structure and functions of the skin. Indeed, fragility of the skin can affect humans around the world. In the senior population, this skin fragility is accompanied by pruritus, whereas atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory disease with highest prevalence in children and adolescents. Acne, the number one reason for dermatologic consultations worldwide, increases its prevalence in adolescents and in females. Senescent alopecia affects humans after menopause and andropause. The articles in this publication present an overview of the current advanced understanding of the diagnosis and therapeutic approaches in 6 fields of dermatology – dermatopaediatry and gerontodermatology, oncodermatology, hair loss, atopic dermatitis, photoprotection and acne – and thereby serve as a useful compendium of updated information and references for all healthcare professionals who see patients with presentations of the symptoms of these diseases.
Equity Misvaluation and Default Options
Authors: EISDORFER ASSAF , GOYAL AMIT , ZHDANOV ALEXEI 
Published: December 2018

ABSTRACTWe study whether default options are mispriced in equity values by employing a structural equity valuation model that explicitly takes into account the value of the option to default (or abandon the firm) and uses firm‐specific inputs. We implement our model on the entire cross section of stocks and identify both over‐ and underpriced equities. An investment strategy that buys undervalued stocks and shorts overvalued stocks generates an annual four‐factor alpha of about 11% for U.S. stocks. The model's performance is stronger for stocks with a higher value of the default option, such as distressed or highly volatile stocks.
Comparative trophic ecology of two sympatric canids in the Brazilian Pampa
Authors: Bossi M. A. S. , Migliorini R. P. , Santos T. G. , Kasper C. B. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractStudies on resource utilization by carnivores are essential to assess the role of the species in the ecosystem. These studies help us to understand the mechanisms that influence vertebrate community structure and the relationships between predators and prey. The aims of this study were to compare and describe the food habits of the sympatric Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) and crab‐eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) in the Brazilian Pampa, and to evaluate the food niche overlap between them, and infer aspects of habitat preferences on the basis of their prey. For the diet analyses, 25 stomach contents of Pampas foxes and 33 of crab‐eating foxes were collected. We identified 80 prey items (49 for the Pampas fox and 63 for the crab‐eating fox) and grouped them into eight main categories. Mammals and invertebrates were the most frequent items in the diets of both canids, followed by fruits. The trophic niche breadth of the Pampas fox (Bsta = 0.56) was larger than that of the crab‐eating fox (Bsta = 0.47). The diet overlap between them was Ojk = 0.58. However, a PERMANOVA test showed that diets did not differ between species or season. Our results showed that both L. gymnocercus and C. thous had generalist diets, with a great diversity of prey, but based on similar main food items. Items that contributed the most to the diet of the Pampas fox were insects (Gryllotalpidae and Scarabaeidae) and cavies (Cavia aperea) and those that contributed the most to the diet of the crab‐eating fox were fruits of Syagrus romanzoffiana, beetles (Scarabaeidae), amphibians (Leptodactylus spp.) and cavies. This is the first study to describe and compare the food habits of these two species, occurring in sympatry in the Brazilian Pampa.
Parental behavior drives large bite force in an insular skink population
Authors: Tseng H.‐Y. , Liao C.‐P. , Hsu J.‐Y. , Wang L.‐Y. , Huang W.‐S. 
Published: December 2018

AbstractDifferent environments may drive the evolution of morphological traits due to selection on organismal performance. In lizards, bite force plays an important role both for inter‐ and intra‐specific interactions, such as prey preference, resource competition, predatory defense, and courtship behavior. Individuals with large bite force may benefit from a high reproductive success through territorial defense or predatory deterrence. Under extremely high predation risk from the oophagic kukri snake (Oligodon formosanus), long‐tailed skinks (Eutropis longicaudata) on Orchid Island exhibit an exclusive post‐ovipositional parental care, not found in any other populations. In this study, we tested the assumption that Orchid Island skinks exhibit higher bite force than two other populations without egg‐guarding behavior. We investigated the three hypotheses that best explain this adaptation: (1) Orchid Island skinks have different parental care than Green Island and Taiwan skinks, which may drive larger bite force; (2) in the three populations, male–male competition and mating bites enhance bite force, leading males to present higher bite force than females; (3) head traits are indicators of bite force. Our results show for the first time that Orchid Island skinks exhibit larger bite force than the other populations do, which may be shaped by a higher egg‐predation pressure and the consequent parental behavior. Males exhibit stronger bite force likely due to a stronger sexual selection. Bite force of long‐tailed skink is positively correlated with larger body weight and head length, and the larger head can further enhance bite force for males in sexual selection.
Current geography masks dynamic history of gene flow during speciation in northern Australian birds
Authors: Peñalba Joshua V. , Joseph Leo , Moritz Craig 
Published: December 2018

AbstractGenome divergence is greatly influenced by gene flow during early stages of speciation. As populations differentiate, geographic barriers can constrain gene flow and so affect the dynamics of divergence and speciation. Current geography, specifically disjunction and continuity of ranges, is often used to predict the historical gene flow during the divergence process. We test this prediction in eight meliphagoid bird species complexes codistributed in four regions. These regions are separated by known biogeographical barriers across northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. We find that bird populations currently separated by terrestrial habitat barriers within Australia and marine barriers between Australia and Papua New Guinea have a range of divergence levels and probability of gene flow not associated with current range connectivity. Instead, geographic distance and historical range connectivity better predict divergence and probability of gene flow. In this dynamic environmental context, we also find support for a nonlinear decrease of the probability of gene flow during the divergence process. The probability of gene flow initially decreases gradually after a certain level of divergence is reached. Its decrease then accelerates until the probability is close to zero. This implies that although geographic connectivity may have more of an effect early in speciation, other factors associated with higher divergence may play a more important role in influencing gene flow midway through and later in speciation. Current geographic connectivity may then mislead inferences regarding potential for gene flow during speciation under a complex and dynamic history of geographic and reproductive isolation.
Functional reconstitution of the type IVa pilus assembly system from enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli
Authors: Luna Rico Areli , Zheng Weili , Petiot Nathalie , Egelman Edward H. , Francetic Olivera 
Published: December 2018

SummaryType 4a pili (T4aP) are long, thin and dynamic fibres displayed on the surface of diverse bacteria promoting adherence, motility and transport functions. Genomes of many Enterobacteriaceae contain conserved gene clusters encoding putative T4aP assembly systems. However, their expression has been observed only in few strains including Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and their inducers remain unknown. Here we used EHEC genomic DNA as a template to amplify and assemble an artificial operon composed of four gene clusters encoding 13 pilus assembly proteins. Controlled expressions of this operon in nonpathogenic E. coli strains led to efficient assembly of T4aP composed of the major pilin PpdD, as shown by shearing assays and immunofluorescence microscopy. When compared with PpdD pili assembled in a heterologous Klebsiella T2SS type 2 secretion system (T2SS) by using cryo‐electron microscopy (cryoEM), these pili showed indistinguishable helical parameters, emphasizing that major pilins are the principal determinants of the fibre structure. Bacterial two‐hybrid analysis identified several interactions of PpdD with T4aP assembly proteins, and with components of the T2SS that allow for heterologous fibre assembly. These studies lay ground for further characterization of the T4aP structure, function and biogenesis in enterobacteria.
Whistle variability of Guiana dolphins in South America: Latitudinal variation or acoustic adaptation?
Authors: Moron Juliana Rodrigues , Lopes Nara Pavan , Reis Sarah Stutz , Mamede Natália , Reis Suzana Stutz , Toledo Gustavo , Corso Gilberto , Sousa‐lima Renata S. , Andriolo Artur 
Published: December 2018

AbstractA previous comparison of whistles using data sampled at 48 kHz suggested that certain frequency parameters vary along a latitudinal gradient. This geographical pattern may be biased because whistles sampled at higher frequencies could potentially have very different frequency contents. The current study compared the acoustic parameters of Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) whistles recorded at a higher sampling rate (96 kHz) and from groups occupying two never before sampled sites, Benevente Bay, Espírito Santo, Brazil, and Formosa Bay, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with recordings of other populations in South America. By only considering data sampled at a rate of at least 96 kHz, we aimed to detect differences in whistles across locations. Contrary to previous findings, our analyses do not indicate any clear separation between northern and southern populations based on whistles, and do not corroborate the hypothesis of latitudinal acoustic variation in this species. The variation in Guiana dolphin whistle parameters found here appears to be influenced by latitude to some extent, but several other factors, including sampling method, environmental fluctuations, and social influence on vocal learning, may be confounding the detection of a geographic pattern in these whistle samples.
A randomised trial of vitamin D in acute‐stage allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis complicating asthma
Authors: Dodamani Manjunath Havalappa , Muthu Valliappan , Thakur Reetu , Pal Arnab , Sehgal Inderpaul Singh , Dhooria Sahajal , Aggarwal Ashutosh N. , Garg Mandeep , Chakrabarti Arunaloke , Agarwal Ritesh 
Published: December 2018

SummaryVitamin D has been demonstrated to have an immunomodulatory role in cystic fibrosis with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Herein, we evaluate supplemental vitamin D in acute‐stage ABPA complicating asthma. Thirty subjects were randomised to receive either prednisolone (n = 15, control) or prednisolone and oral vitamin D (n = 15, intervention arm). Serum vitamin D levels were significantly higher in the intervention versus the control arm, following therapy. The mean decline in total IgE at 2 months (primary outcome) was 10% higher in the intervention arm than the control arm; however, this was not statistically significant (48.6% vs 38.1%, P = 0.27). The percentage decline in total IgE after 4 and 6 months of randomisation was also similar in the two arms. There was no difference in asthma exacerbations (0 vs 2, intervention vs control; P = 0.16). No ABPA exacerbation occurred in either arm. The other outcomes including the Th2 (IL‐4, IL‐6 and IL‐10) and Th17 (IL‐17) cytokine levels were similar in the two groups. None of the participants experienced hypervitaminosis D. There was no significant improvement in the clinical or immunological outcomes following vitamin D supplementation. A larger trial is required to ascertain the role of vitamin D in ABPA complicating asthma [Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03133299].
Curcumin Inhibits Proliferation of Synovial Cells by Downregulating Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase‐3 in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Zeng Jian‐jun , Wang Hai‐dong , Shen Zhong‐wei , Yao Xiao‐dong , Wu Cheng‐jun , Pan Tao 
Published: December 2018

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between curcumin and the differentially expressed genes (DEG) in synovial tissues of osteoarthritis.MethodsMicroarray analysis was used to screen for the DEG in osteoarthritis synovial cells. Curcumin‐related genes were identified through the drug–gene interaction network STITCH (http://stitch.embl.de/cgi/input.pl). Expression levels of fibronectin 1 (FN1) and collagen III protein were measured by western blot. MTT assay was used to examine the effects of different concentrations of curcumin on cell viability. Western blot and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction were used to validate the different expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase‐3 (MMP3). Clone formation assay, flow cytometry, and the TUNEL method were conducted for detecting the cell proliferation and apoptosis rate.ResultsIn the two chips of GSE1919 and GSE55235, the average expression of MMP3 in the osteoarthritis group was 63.7% and 12.9% higher than that of the healthy control, respectively. The results of western blot also showed that the average expression of MMP3 in 30 osteoarthritis patients was 132% higher than that of the healthy group, which confirmed that MMP3 was highly expressed in osteoarthritis group. The results of MTT showed that at 72 h, the cell viability of 40 μmol/L curcumin was the lowest and 79.6% lower than for the 0 μmol/L group, so the final curcumin concentration of 40 μmol/L was selected for subsequent experiments. Western blot results further showed that the expression of MMP3 was 44% lower in the untreated groups compared with the curcumin group, and the expressions of FN1 and collagen III were increased by 112% and 84%, respectively, which indicated that curcumin inhibited MMP3 expression and decreased osteoarthritis synovial cell activity. Cloning formation experiments showed that cell numbers increased by 75% and 20.5% in untreated and curcumin groups, and compared with the untreated group, the cells in the curcumin group decreased by 30.8%. Flow cytometry showed that the apoptotic rate in the curcumin group increased by 85.1% compared with the untreated group, but for a single group, MMP3 decreased the apoptotic rate by 53.9% and 46.7%, respectively.Conclusions
MMP3 was highly expressed in osteoarthritis synovial cells. Curcumin could reduce cell viability, inhibit cell proliferation, increase cell apoptosis, and eventually alleviate inflammation of osteoarthritis by inhibiting the expression of MMP3.
A case of focal facial dermal dysplasia type 4
Authors: Mehrtens Sarah Helen , Shankar Sonal 
Published: December 2018

AbstractWe present a rare case of focal facial dermal dysplasia type 4 (FFDD4) in an otherwise healthy boy infant, presenting as bilateral preauricular scarlike defects surrounded by a hair collar, resembling membranous aplasia cutis congenita. The presence of a hair collar supports the hypothesis that FFDD is caused by abnormal closure at facial embryonic fusion lines, but unlike midline scalp defects is not associated with neurological compromise. Other types of FFDD occur at different sites and can be associated with cranial dysgraphism. Awareness of this rare condition by dermatologists is imperative to enable prompt recognition and minimize diagnostic delay.
The high prolificacy of D’man sheep is associated with the segregation of the FecLL mutation in the B4GALNT2 gene
Authors: Ben Jemaa Slim , Ruesche Julien , Sarry Julien , Woloszyn Florent , Lassoued Narjess , Fabre Stéphane 
Published: December 2018

ContentsMutations in the FecL locus are associated with large variation in ovulation rate and litter size in the French Lacaune sheep breed. It has been shown that the B4GALNT2 gene within the FecL locus is most likely responsible for the high fecundity in the French breed. In this study, we have highlighted the segregation of the FecLL mutation within the B4GALNT2 gene in North African sheep breeds and notably in the highly prolific D'man breed. Genotyping of a sample of 183 Tunisian D'man individuals revealed a high frequency (0.65) of the prolific allele FecLLwhich was attributed to the adoption of a decades‐old breeding strategy based on the selection of ewe lambs born from large litter size. Homozygous LL ewes showed a significantly increased litter size compared to heterozygous and non‐carrier ewes (FecLL/FecLL = 2.47 ± 0.09 vs. FecLL/FecL+ = 2.23 ± 0.09, p < 0.05 and FecL+/FecL+ = 1.93 ± 0.18, p < 0.01). The presence of the FecLLpolymorphism in both D'man and Lacaune breeds argues for an ancestral origin of this mutation and brings an answer to the old question of the genetic determinism of the extreme prolificacy of the D'man ewes. The results of this study can help to establish planned genotype‐based mating allowing both higher profit for the breeders and an optimal management of the FecLL mutation in D'man sheep populations.
The eye of the beholder. Reconsidering the notions of pro‐poor growth and progressivity, with an application to Vietnam
Authors: Erreygers Guido , Bui Thi Kim Thanh 
Published: December 2018

AbstractBoth policymakers and economists have tried to find criteria to assess whether economic growth is pro‐poor. In this paper we reconsider the inequality‐oriented approach originally proposed by Jenkins and Van Kerm. They look at the changes in the whole income distribution, and decompose the change in income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, into a progressivity and a reranking component. They define a pro‐poor (or progressive) change as one where the changes in income are more to the benefit of those who are initially poor than to the benefit of those who are initially rich. We challenge this assumption, and maintain that also the point of view of the finally poor and the finally rich should be taken into account when evaluating whether growth is pro‐poor. We suggest a new decomposition method, based on an inequality index of the generalized entropy family, which allows the change in income inequality to be decomposed exactly into a forward‐looking and a backward‐looking progressivity component. Our empirical illustration, using data from household surveys in Vietnam, shows that economic growth in Vietnam has been pro‐poor from a forward‐looking perspective, but not from a backward‐looking perspective.
A newly identified cluster of glutathione S‐transferase genes provides Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton
Authors: Li Zhi‐Kun , Chen Bin , Li Xiu‐Xin , Wang Jin‐Peng , Zhang Yan , Wang Xing‐Fen , Yan Yuan‐Yuan , Ke Hui‐Feng , Yang Jun , Wu Jin‐Hua , Wang Guo‐Ning , Zhang Gui‐Yin , Wu Li‐Qiang , Wang Xi‐Yin , Ma Zhi‐Ying 
Published: December 2018

SummaryAs the largest cultivated fiber crop in the world, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is often exposed to various biotic stresses during its growth periods. Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae is a severe disease in cotton, and the molecular mechanism of cotton resistance for Verticillium wilt needs to be further investigated. Here, we revealed that the cotton genome contains nine types of GST genes. An evolutionary analysis showed that a newly identified cluster (including Gh_A09G1508, Gh_A09G1509 and Gh_A09G1510) located on chromosome 09 of the A‐subgenome was under positive selection pressure during the formation of an allotetraploid. Transcriptome analysis showed that this cluster participates in Verticillium wilt resistance. Because the Gh_A09G1509 gene showed the greatest differential expression in the resistant cultivar under V. dahliae stress, we overexpressed this gene in tobacco and found that its overexpression resulted in enhanced Verticillium wilt resistance. Suppression of the gene cluster via virus‐induced gene silencing made cotton plants of the resistant cultivar Nongda601 significantly susceptible. These results demonstrated that the GST cluster played an important role in Verticillium wilt resistance. Further investigation showed that the encoded enzymes of the cluster were essential for the delicate equilibrium between the production and scavenging of H2O2 during V. dahliae stress.