bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation Improves Female Sexual Function in Women with Overactive Bladder Syndrome
Authors: Musco Stefania , Serati Maurizio , Lombardi Giuseppe , Lumi Ermal , Parisi Annunziata Isabella , Del Popolo Giulio , Finazzi Agrò Enrico 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is an established treatment for overactive bladder (OAB), especially in women with other concomitant pelvic disorders, such as sexual impairment.

Aim
To evaluate the impact of PTNS on female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in women undergoing PTNS for OAB and analyze the results.

Methods
An observational prospective study was conducted in two Italian centers. Consecutive women undergoing PTNS for dry OAB were enrolled from May 2013 to June 2014. All patients were asked to complete the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the OAB short-form questionnaire, and a 24-hour bladder diary at baseline and 3 months later, at the end of the PTNS course. Patients with an FSFI total score no higher than 26.55 at inclusion were considered as presenting with FSD. Patients with an FSFI total score higher than 26.55 after treatment (if the increase in FSFI score was ≥20%) were considered FSD objective responders.

Main Outcome Measures
Sexuality was assessed using the FSFI. The 24-hour bladder diary and completed OAB short-form questionnaire were assessed before and after PTNS to evaluate OAB symptoms.

Results
Forty-one women were evaluable. Twenty-one of 41 women (51%; mean age = 51 ± 10.67 years) were considered affected by FSD at inclusion. All FSFI domains showed statistically significant improvement in women with FSD (P &lt; .05). In particular, 9 of 21 patients with FSD (43%) objectively responded (before treatment: mean FSFI total score = 18.11, range 10.8–26.3; after treatment: mean FSFI total score = 31.04, range 27.6–35). Also, women without FSD at baseline reported statistically significant improvement in their sexual function based on FSFI scores (P &lt; .05). No significant correlations were seen between data questionnaires.

Conclusion
PTNS improves sexual function in women with dry OAB. This amelioration is independent of urinary symptoms. Further studies are needed to confirm a possible role of PTNS in treating FSD.
Social Anxiety, Pain Catastrophizing and Return-To-Work Self-Efficacy in chronic pain: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Thomtén Johanna , Boersma Katja , Flink Ida , Tillfors Maria 
Published: January 2016

Abstract

Background and aims
Returning to work after periods of sick-leave due to chronic pain problems, involve a number of situations of interpersonal nature (e.g. meeting supervisors/insurance companies to adapt work setting to present functional level, receive help from colleagues, express pain, etc.). Since chronic pain has shown co-morbidity with social anxiety, it is of interest to investigate restraining factors in return to work among chronic pain sufferers from a social perspective. Catastrophizing is identified in both pain and social anxiety as a mechanism that might fuel a continuous bias in how situations are perceived (threat) and by hindering the development of functional behavior strategies. The presence of social anxiety in chronic pain patients might be seen as a stressor that limits the individuals’ ability to effectively communicate pain-related needs to colleagues, and/or employers and therefore act as a hindering factor in return-to-work. Hence, the overall aim of this study was to examine the relationship between social anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and perceived ability to communicate pain-related needs to the work environment in a clinical pain population.

Methods
The study employed a cross-sectional design and involved 247 individuals with chronic pain (82.3% women; M
age = 44 years). Measures included the Pain catastrophizing Scale, the Social Phobia Screening Questionnaire and the communication of pain-related needs-subscale of the Return-To-Work Self-efficacy Questionnaire. Analyzes were run to examine whether social anxiety moderated the relation between pain catastrophizing, and perceived ability to communicate pain-related needs while controlling for pain severity/interference and sick leave.

Results
Social anxiety and pain catastrophizing correlated positively with each other and negatively with perceived ability to communicate pain-related needs. No support was obtained for a moderating effect of social anxiety. However, social anxiety and pain interference were each significant predictors of the individual’s confidence in being able to communicate pain-related needs to the work environment.

Conclusions
In the context of pain and work-related communication, symptoms of social anxiety was identified as being of similar importance to the outcome as pain interference, while pain severity was not associated with the individual’s confidence in communicating one’s pain-related needs.

Implications
The results implicate that fears relating to pain-related social situations at work might be central in the process of return-to-work and rehabilitation in chronic pain.
The Mysterious Ethics of High-Frequency Trading
Authors: Cooper Ricky , Davis Michael , Van Vliet Ben 
Published: January 2016

ABSTRACT:The ethics of high frequency trading are obscure, due in part to the complexity of the practice. This article contributes to the existing literature of ethics in financial markets by examining a recent trend in regulation in high frequency trading, the prohibition of deception. We argue that in the financial markets almost any regulation, other than the most basic, tends to create a moral hazard and increase information asymmetry. Since the market’s job is, at least in part, price discovery, we argue that simplicity of regulation and restraint in regulation are virtues to a greater extent than in other areas of finance. This article proposes criteria for determining which high-frequency trading strategies should be regulated.
Historical Reconstruction of Submarine Earthquakes Using210Pb,137Cs, and241Am Turbidite Chronology and Radiocarbon Reservoir Age Estimation off East Taiwan
Authors: Dezileau L , Lehu R , Lallemand S , Hsu S-K , Babonneau N , Ratzov G , Lin A T , Dominguez S 
Published: January 2016

AbstractTaiwan is a young and seismically active mountain belt, where a series of strong earthquakes (M>7) have occurred over the past hundred years. Identifying historical earthquakes around Taiwan is a key to better constrain the geodynamic of this active region. Sedimentological and geochemical analyses of surface sediments from one station offshore east Taiwan revealed the presence of coarse-grained layers interpreted as turbidites. The age of these layers have been determined by210Pb,137Cs, and241Am chronology. Dating of the three most recent turbidites provides ages of AD 2001±3, AD 1950±5, and AD 1928±10. The results show striking temporal correspondence of turbidite layers to large (M≥6.8) earthquakes recorded in the region since the 20th century. The chronologies of sediment layers lead us to believe that turbidites resulted from the 2003 Taitung earthquake (M 6.8), the 1951 Chengkong earthquake (M 7.1), and the 1935 Lutao earthquake (M 7.0), respectively. Such a good correlation between turbidites and high-magnitude (M≥6.8) historical and instrumental seismic events suggests that turbidite paleoseismology constitutes a valuable tool for earthquake assessment in the eastern Taiwan margin. Moreover, the modern reservoir radiocarbon age and the regional marine reservoir correction (ΔR) of the Kuroshio Current off Taiwan were estimated by comparing accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)14C ages with ages derived from corrected210Pb profiles and historical accounts of identifiable seismic events. Such a determination is important to calibrate the14C ages of marine materials for accurate comparison of marine and continental geological records. Our calculated mean ΔR value of 232±5414C yr (n=2) is higher than its modern value of 86±4014C yr. This high value can be explained by the presence of local upwelling cells and turbulence in the Kuroshio Current, north of Green Island. These upwelling cells bring14C-depleted water to the surface, resulting in an increase of the modern ΔR value in this portion of the Kuroshio Current.
Mesenchymal stem cells and immunomodulation: current status and future prospects
Authors: Gao F , Chiu S M , Motan D A L , Zhang Z , Chen L , Ji H-L , Tse H-F , Fu Q-L , Lian Q 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe unique immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) make them an invaluable cell type for the repair of tissue/ organ damage caused by chronic inflammation or autoimmune disorders. Although they hold great promise in the treatment of immune disorders such as graft versus host disease (GvHD) and allergic disorders, there remain many challenges to overcome before their widespread clinical application. An understanding of the biological properties of MSCs will clarify the mechanisms of MSC-based transplantation for immunomodulation. In this review, we summarize the preclinical and clinical studies of MSCs from different adult tissues, discuss the current hurdles to their use and propose the future development of pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs as an approach to immunomodulation therapy.
Hemoglobinuria-related acute kidney injury is driven by intrarenal oxidative reactions triggering a heme toxicity response
Authors: Deuel J W , Schaer C A , Boretti F S , Opitz L , Garcia-Rubio I , Baek J H , Spahn D R , Buehler P W , Schaer D J 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIntravascular hemolysis can result in hemoglobinuria with acute kidney injury. In this study we systematically explored two in vivo animal models and a related cell culture system to identify hemoglobinuria-triggered damage pathways. In models of stored blood transfusion and hemoglobin (Hb) exposure in guinea pigs and beagle dogs we found that hemoglobinuria led to intrarenal conversion of ferrous Hb(Fe2+) to ferric Hb(Fe3+), accumulation of free heme and Hb-cross-linking products, enhanced 4-hydroxynonenal reactivity in renal tissue, and acute tubule injury. These changes were associated in guinea pigs with activation of a renal cortex gene expression signature indicative of oxidative stress and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Tubule cells of hemolytic animals demonstrated enhanced protein expression of heme oxygenase and heat shock protein and enhanced expression of acute kidney injury-related neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin. These adverse changes were completely prevented by haptoglobin treatment. The in vivo findings were extrapolated to a MS-based proteome analysis of SILAC-labeled renal epithelial cells that were exposed to free heme within a concentration range estimate of renal tubule heme exposure. These experiments confirmed that free heme is a likely trigger of tubule barrier deregulation and oxidative cell damage and reinforced the hypothesis that uncontrolled free heme could trigger the UPR as an important pathway of renal injury during hemoglobinuria.
Engineered Mott ground state in a LaTiO3+δ/LaNiO3 heterostructure
Authors: Cao Yanwei , Liu Xiaoran , Kareev M. , Choudhury D. , Middey S. , Meyers D. , Kim J.-W. , Ryan P. J. , Freeland J.W. , Chakhalian J. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIn pursuit of creating cuprate-like electronic and orbital structures, artificial heterostructures based on LaNiO3 have inspired a wealth of exciting experimental and theoretical results. However, to date there is a very limited experimental understanding of the electronic and orbital states emerging from interfacial charge transfer and their connections to the modified band structure at the interface. Towards this goal, we have synthesized a prototypical superlattice composed of a correlated metal LaNiO3 and a doped Mott insulator LaTiO3+δ, and investigated its electronic structure by resonant X-ray absorption spectroscopy combined with X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, electrical transport and theory calculations. The heterostructure exhibits interfacial charge transfer from Ti to Ni sites, giving rise to an insulating ground state with orbital polarization and eg orbital band splitting. Our findings demonstrate how the control over charge at the interface can be effectively used to create exotic electronic, orbital and spin states.
Pin1At regulates PIN1 polar localization and root gravitropism
Authors: Xi Wanyan , Gong Ximing , Yang Qiaoyun , Yu Hao , Liou Yih-Cherng 
Published: January 2016

AbstractRoot gravitropism allows plants to establish root systems and its regulation depends on polar auxin transport mediated by PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin transporters. PINOID (PID) and PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A (PP2A) act antagonistically on reversible phosphorylation of PINs. This regulates polar PIN distribution and auxin transport. Here we show that a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1At regulates root gravitropism. Downregulation of Pin1At suppresses root agravitropic phenotypes of pp2aa and 35S:PID, while overexpression of Pin1At affects root gravitropic responses and enhances the pp2aa agravitropic phenotype. Pin1At also affects auxin transport and polar localization of PIN1 in stele cells, which is mediated by PID and PP2A. Furthermore, Pin1At catalyses the conformational change of the phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro motifs of PIN1. Thus, Pin1At mediates the conformational dynamics of PIN1 and affects PID- and PP2A-mediated regulation of PIN1 polar localization, which correlates with the regulation of root gravitropism.
Scaling-up Fermentation of Pichia pastoris to demonstration-scale using new methanol-feeding strategy and increased air pressure instead of pure oxygen supplement
Authors: Liu Wan-Cang , Gong Ting , Wang Qing-Hua , Liang Xiao , Chen Jing-Jing , Zhu Ping 
Published: January 2016

AbstractScaling-up of high-cell-density fermentation (HCDF) of Pichia pastoris from the lab or pilot scale to the demonstration scale possesses great significance because the latter is the final technological hurdle in the decision to go commercial. However, related investigations have rarely been reported. In this paper, we study the scaling-up processes of a recombinant P. pastoris from the pilot (10 to 100-L) to the demonstration (1,000-L) scales, which can be used to convert 7-β-xylosyl-10-deacetyltaxol into 10-deacetyltaxol by the β-xylosidase for semi-synthesis of Taxol. We demonstrated that a pure oxygen supplement can be omitted from the HCDF if the super atmospheric pressure was increased from 0.05 to 0.10 ± 0.05 MPa and we developed a new methanol feeding biomass-stat strategy (0.035 mL/g/h) with 1% dissolved oxygen and 100 g/L initial induction biomass (dry cell weight). The scaling-up was reproducible and the best results were obtained from the 1,000-L scale, featuring a shorter induction time and the highest enzyme activities and productions, respectively. The specific growth and specific production rates were also determined. This study lays a solid foundation for the commercial preparation of 10-deacetyltaxol through the recombinant yeast. It also provides a successful paradigm for scaling-up HCDF of P. pastoris to the demonstration scale.
Predicting chemotherapeutic drug combinations through gene network profiling
Authors: Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang , Chua Jacqueline Kia Kee , Seah Kwi Shan , Koo Seok Hwee , Yee Jie Yin , Yang Eugene Guorong , Lim Kim Kiat , Pang Shermaine Yu Wen , Yuen Audrey , Zhang Louxin , Ang Wee Han , Dymock Brian , Lee Edmund Jon Deoon , Chen Ee Sin 
Published: January 2016

AbstractContemporary chemotherapeutic treatments incorporate the use of several agents in combination. However, selecting the most appropriate drugs for such therapy is not necessarily an easy or straightforward task. Here, we describe a targeted approach that can facilitate the reliable selection of chemotherapeutic drug combinations through the interrogation of drug-resistance gene networks. Our method employed single-cell eukaryote fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) as a model of proliferating cells to delineate a drug resistance gene network using a synthetic lethality workflow. Using the results of a previous unbiased screen, we assessed the genetic overlap of doxorubicin with six other drugs harboring varied mechanisms of action. Using this fission yeast model, drug-specific ontological sub-classifications were identified through the computation of relative hypersensitivities. We found that human gastric adenocarcinoma cells can be sensitized to doxorubicin by concomitant treatment with cisplatin, an intra-DNA strand crosslinking agent and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid, a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Our findings point to the utility of fission yeast as a model and the differential targeting of a conserved gene interaction network when screening for successful chemotherapeutic drug combinations for human cells.
On-chip Microfluidic Multimodal Swimmer toward 3D Navigation
Authors: Barbot Antoine , Decanini Dominique , Hwang Gilgueng 
Published: January 2016

AbstractMobile microrobots have a promising future in various applications. These include targeted drug delivery, local measurement, biopsy or microassembly. Studying mobile microrobots inside microfluidics is an essential step towards such applications. But in this environment that was not designed for the robot, integration process and propulsion robustness still pose technological challenges. In this paper, we present a helical microrobot with three different motions, designed to achieve these goals. These motions are rolling, spintop motion and swimming. Through these multiple motions, microrobots are able to selectively integrate a chip through a microfluidic channel. This enables them to perform propulsion characterizations, 3D (Three Dimensional) maneuverability, particle cargo transport manipulation and exit from the chip. The microrobot selective integration inside microfluidics could lead to various in-vitro biologic or in-vivo biomedical applications.
Rational steering of insulin binding specificity by intra-chain chemical crosslinking
Authors: Viková Jitka , Collinsová Michaela , Kletvíková Emília , Buděšínský Miloš , Kaplan Vojtěch , Žáková Lenka , Veverka Václav , Hexnerová Rozálie , Aviñó Roberto J. Tarazona , Straková Jana , Selicharová Irena , Vaněk Václav , Wright Daniel W. , Watson Christopher J. , Turkenburg Johan P. , Brzozowski Andrzej M. , Jiráček Jiří 
Published: January 2016

AbstractInsulin is a key hormone of human metabolism with major therapeutic importance for both types of diabetes. New insulin analogues with more physiological profiles and better glycemic control are needed, especially analogues that preferentially bind to the metabolic B-isoform of insulin receptor (IR-B). Here, we aimed to stabilize and modulate the receptor-compatible conformation of insulin by covalent intra-chain crosslinking within its B22–B30 segment, using the CuI-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azides and alkynes. This approach resulted in 14 new, systematically crosslinked insulin analogues whose structures and functions were extensively characterized and correlated. One of the analogues, containing a B26–B29 triazole bridge, was highly active in binding to both IR isoforms, with a significant preference for IR-B. Our results demonstrate the potential of chemistry-driven modulation of insulin function, also shedding new light on the functional importance of hormone’s B-chain C-terminus for its IR-B specificity.
Cd(II) Sorption on Montmorillonite-Humic acid-Bacteria Composites
Authors: Du Huihui , Chen Wenli , Cai Peng , Rong Xingmin , Dai Ke , Peacock Caroline L. , Huang Qiaoyun 
Published: January 2016

AbstractSoil components (e.g., clays, bacteria and humic substances) are known to produce mineral-organic composites in natural systems. Herein, batch sorption isotherms, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and Cd K-edge EXAFS spectroscopy were applied to investigate the binding characteristics of Cd on montmorillonite(Mont)-humic acid(HA)-bacteria composites. Additive sorption and non-additive Cd(II) sorption behaviour is observed for the binary Mont-bacteria and ternary Mont-HA-bacteria composite, respectively. Specifically, in the ternary composite, the coexistence of HA and bacteria inhibits Cd adsorption, suggesting a “blocking effect” between humic acid and bacterial cells. Large positive entropies (68.1 ~ 114.4 J/mol/K) and linear combination fitting of the EXAFS spectra for Cd adsorbed onto Mont-bacteria and Mont-HA-bacteria composites, demonstrate that Cd is mostly bound to bacterial surface functional groups by forming inner-sphere complexes. All our results together support the assertion that there is a degree of site masking in the ternary clay mineral-humic acid-bacteria composite. Because of this, in the ternary composite, Cd preferentially binds to the higher affinity components-i.e., the bacteria.
Development of a conditional liver tumor model by mifepristone-inducible Cre recombination to control oncogenic krasV12 expression in transgenic zebrafish
Authors: Nguyen Anh Tuan , Koh Vivien , Spitsbergen Jan M. , Gong Zhiyuan 
Published: January 2016

AbstractHere we report a new transgenic expression system by combination of liver-specific expression, mifepristone induction and Cre-loxP recombination to conditionally control the expression of oncogenic krasV12. This transgenic system allowed expression of krasV12 specifically in the liver by a brief exposure of mifepristone to induce permanent genomic recombination mediated by the Cre-loxP system. We found that liver tumors were generally induced from multiple foci due to incomplete Cre-loxP recombination, thus mimicking naturally occurring human tumors resulting from one or a few mutated cells and clonal proliferation to form nodules. Similar to our earlier studies by both constitutive and inducible expression of the krasV12 oncogene, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the main type of liver tumor induced by krasV12 expression. Moreover, mixed tumors with hepatocellular adenoma and hepatoblastoma (HB) were also frequently observed. Molecular analyses also indicated similar increase of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in all types of liver tumors, but nuclear localization of β–catenin, a sign of malignant transformation, was found only in HCC and HB. Taken together, our new transgenic system reported in this study allows transgenic krasV12 expression specifically in the zebrafish liver only by a brief exposure of mifepristone to induce permanent genomic recombination mediated by the Cre-loxP system.
Turn on the super-elastic collision nature of coronal mass ejections through low approaching speed
Authors: Shen Fang , Wang Yuming , Shen Chenglong , Feng Xueshang 
Published: January 2016

AbstractIt has been proved from the observations and numerical simulations that the collision between solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs), the largest plasmoids in the heliosphere, could be super-elastic. This finding suggests that the CMEs’ magnetic energy and thermal energy could be converted into kinetic energy through a more efficient way. However CME collisions are not always super-elastic, which means that this distinct property of plasmoids is probably excited conditionally. As the first attempt, we carry out a series of three-dimensional numerical experiments and establish a diagram showing the dependence of the collision nature on the CME speed and k-number, the ratio of the CME’s kinetic energy to the CME’s total energy. It is found that the super-elastic nature of CMEs appears at the relatively low approaching speed and most of the previous case studies are in agreement with this diagram. Our study firmly advances the understanding of the super-elastic property of plasmoids and does give us new clues to deeply understand why and how the magnetic energy and/or thermal energy of the colliding plasmoids can be converted into kinetic energy in such an efficient way.