bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hearing Impairment and Incident Dementia: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Davies Hilary R. , Cadar Dorina , Herbert Annie , Orrell Martin , Steptoe Andrew 
Published: July 2017

ObjectivesTo determine whether hearing loss is associated with incident physician‐diagnosed dementia in a representative sample.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingEnglish Longitudinal Study of Ageing.ParticipantsAdults aged 50 and older.MeasurementsCross‐sectional associations between self‐reported (n = 7,865) and objective hearing measures (n = 6,902) and dementia were examined using multinomial‐logistic regression. The longitudinal association between self‐reported hearing at Wave 2 (2004/05) and cumulative physician‐diagnosed dementia up to Wave 7 (2014/15) was modelled using Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsAfter adjustment for potential confounders, in cross‐sectional analysis, participants who had self‐reported or objective moderate and poor hearing were more likely to have a dementia diagnosis than those with normal hearing (self‐reported: odds ratio OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1–2.4 moderate hearing; OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.7–3.9 poor hearing, objective: OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.0–2.8 moderate hearing; OR = 4.4, 95% CI = 1.9–9.9 poor hearing). Longitudinally, the hazard of developing dementia was 1.4 (95% CI = 1.0–1.9) times as high in individuals who reported moderate hearing and 1.6 (95% CI = 1.1–2.0) times as high in those who reported poor hearing.ConclusionOlder adults with hearing loss are at greater risk of dementia than those with normal hearing. These findings are consistent with the rationale that correction of hearing loss could help delay the onset of dementia, or that hearing loss itself could serve as a risk indicator for cognitive decline.
Integrative studies implicate matrix metalloproteinase‐12 as a culprit gene for large‐artery atherosclerotic stroke
Authors: Mahdessian H. , Perisic Matic L. , Lengquist M. , Gertow K. , Sennblad B. , Baldassarre D. , Veglia F. , Humphries S. E. , Rauramaa R. , de Faire U. , Smit A. J. , Giral P. , Kurl S. , Mannarino E. , Tremoli E. , Hamsten A. , Eriksson P. , Hedin U. , Mälarstig A. ,   IMPROVE study group
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundIschaemic stroke and coronary heart disease are important contributors to the global disease burden and share atherosclerosis as the main underlying cause. Recent evidence from a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) suggested that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) near the MMP12 gene at chromosome 11q22.3 were associated with large‐vessel ischaemic stroke. Here, we evaluated and extended these results by examining the relationship between MMP12 and atherosclerosis in clinical and experimental studies.Methods and ResultsPlasma concentrations of MMP12 were measured at baseline in 3394 subjects with high‐risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) using the Olink ProSeek CVD I array. The plasma MMP12 concentration showed association with incident cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (130 and 67 events, respectively, over 36 months) and carotid intima‐media thickness progression (P = 3.6 × 10−5). A GWAS of plasma MMP12 concentrations revealed that SNPs rs499459, rs613084 and rs1892971 at chr11q22.3 were independently associated with plasma MMP12 (P < 5 × 10−8). The lead SNPs showed associations with mRNA levels of MMP12 and adjacent MMPs in atherosclerotic plaques. MMP12 transcriptomic and proteomic levels were strongly significantly increased in carotid plaques compared with control arterial tissue and in plaques from symptomatic versus asymptomatic patients. By combining immunohistochemistry and proximity ligation assay, we demonstrated that MMP12 localizes to CD68 + macrophages and interacts with elastin in plaques. MMP12 silencing in human THP‐1‐derived macrophages resulted in reduced macrophage migration.ConclusionsOur study supports the notion that MMP12 is implicated in large‐artery atherosclerotic stroke, functionally by enhancing elastin degradation and macrophage invasion in plaques.
Genome scans on experimentally evolved populations reveal candidate regions for adaptation to plant resistance in the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida
Authors: Eoche‐Bosy D. , Gautier M. , Esquibet M. , Legeai F. , Bretaudeau A. , Bouchez O. , Fournet S. , Grenier E. , Montarry J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractImproving resistance durability involves to be able to predict the adaptation speed of pathogen populations. Identifying the genetic bases of pathogen adaptation to plant resistances is a useful step to better understand and anticipate this phenomenon. Globodera pallida is a major pest of potato crop for which a resistance QTL, GpaVvrn, has been identified in Solanum vernei. However, its durability is threatened as G. pallida populations are able to adapt to the resistance in few generations. The aim of this study was to investigate the genomic regions involved in the resistance breakdown by coupling experimental evolution and high‐density genome scan. We performed a whole‐genome resequencing of pools of individuals (Pool‐Seq) belonging to G. pallida lineages derived from two independent populations having experimentally evolved on susceptible and resistant potato cultivars. About 1.6 million SNPs were used to perform the genome scan using a recent model testing for adaptive differentiation and association to population‐specific covariables. We identified 275 outliers and 31 of them, which also showed a significant reduction in diversity in adapted lineages, were investigated for their genic environment. Some candidate genomic regions contained genes putatively encoding effectors and were enriched in SPRYSECs, known in cyst nematodes to be involved in pathogenicity and in (a)virulence. Validated candidate SNPs will provide a useful molecular tool to follow frequencies of virulence alleles in natural G. pallida populations and define efficient strategies of use of potato resistances maximizing their durability.
Extensive seed and pollen dispersal and assortative mating in the rain forest tree Entandrophragma cylindricum (Meliaceae) inferred from indirect and direct analyses
Authors: Monthe Franck Kameni , Hardy Olivier J. , Doucet Jean‐Louis , Loo Judy , Duminil Jérôme 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPollen and seed dispersal are key processes affecting the demographic and evolutionary dynamics of plant species and are also important considerations for the sustainable management of timber trees. Through direct and indirect genetic analyses, we studied the mating system and the extent of pollen and seed dispersal in an economically important timber species, Entandrophragma cylindricum (Meliaceae). We genotyped adult trees, seeds and saplings from a 400‐ha study plot in a natural forest from East Cameroon using eight nuclear microsatellite markers. The species is mainly outcrossed (t = 0.92), but seeds from the same fruit are often pollinated by the same father (correlated paternity, rp = 0.77). An average of 4.76 effective pollen donors (Nep) per seed tree contributes to the pollination. Seed dispersal was as extensive as pollen dispersal, with a mean dispersal distance in the study plot approaching 600 m, and immigration rates from outside the plot to the central part of the plot reaching 40% for both pollen and seeds. Extensive pollen‐ and seed‐mediated gene flow is further supported by the weak, fine‐scale spatial genetic structure (Sp statistic = 0.0058), corresponding to historical gene dispersal distances (σg) reaching approximately 1,500 m. Using an original approach, we showed that the relatedness between mating individuals (Fij = 0.06) was higher than expected by chance, given the extent of pollen dispersal distances (expected Fij = 0.02 according to simulations). This remarkable pattern of assortative mating could be a phenomenon of potentially consequential evolutionary and management significance that deserves to be studied in other plant populations.
Pathogen richness and abundance predict patterns of adaptive major histocompatibility complex variation in insular amphibians
Authors: Wang Supen , Liu Conghui , Wilson Anthony B. , Zhao Na , Li Xianping , Zhu Wei , Gao Xu , Liu Xuan , Li Yiming 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe identification of the factors responsible for genetic variation and differentiation at adaptive loci can provide important insights into the evolutionary process and is crucial for the effective management of threatened species. We studied the impact of environmental viral richness and abundance on functional diversity and differentiation of the MHC class Ia locus in populations of the black‐spotted pond frog (Pelophylax nigromaculatus), an IUCN‐listed species, on 24 land‐bridge islands of the Zhoushan Archipelago and three nearby mainland sites. We found a high proportion of private MHC alleles in mainland and insular populations, corresponding to 32 distinct functional supertypes, and strong positive selection on MHC antigen‐binding sites in all populations. Viral pathogen diversity and abundance were reduced at island sites relative to the mainland, and islands housed distinctive viral communities. Standardized MHC diversity at island sites exceeded that found at neutral microsatellites, and the representation of key functional supertypes was positively correlated with the abundance of specific viruses in the environment (Frog virus 3 and Ambystoma tigrinum virus). These results indicate that pathogen‐driven diversifying selection can play an important role in maintaining functionally important MHC variation following island isolation, highlighting the importance of considering functionally important genetic variation and host–pathogen associations in conservation planning and management.
Plant species richness and productivity determine the diversity of soil fungal guilds in temperate coniferous forest and bog habitats
Authors: Hiiesalu Indrek , Bahram Mohammad , Tedersoo Leho 
Published: July 2017

AbstractFungi have important roles as decomposers, mycorrhizal root symbionts and pathogens in forest ecosystems, but there is limited information about their diversity and composition at the landscape scale. This work aimed to disentangle the factors underlying fungal richness and composition along the landscape‐scale moisture, organic matter and productivity gradients. Using high‐throughput sequencing, we identified soil fungi from 54 low‐productivity Pinus sylvestris‐dominated plots across three study areas in Estonia and determined the main predictors of fungal richness based on edaphic, floristic and spatial variables. Fungal richness displayed unimodal relationship with organic matter and deduced soil moisture. Plant richness and productivity constituted the key predictors for taxonomic richness of functional guilds. Composition of fungi and the main ectomycorrhizal fungal lineages and hyphal exploration types was segregated by moisture availability and soil nitrogen. We conclude that plant productivity and diversity determine the richness and proportion of most functional groups of soil fungi in low‐productive pine forests on a landscape scale. Adjacent stands of pine forest may differ greatly in the dominance of functional guilds that have marked effects on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling in these forest ecosystems.
When can refuges mediate the genetic effects of fire regimes? A simulation study of the effects of topography and weather on neutral and adaptive genetic diversity in fire‐prone landscapes
Authors: Banks Sam C. , Davies Ian D. , Cary Geoffrey J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractUnderstanding how landscape heterogeneity mediates the effects of fire on biodiversity is increasingly important under global changes in fire regimes. We used a simulation experiment to investigate how fire regimes interact with topography and weather to shape neutral and selection‐driven genetic diversity under alternative dispersal scenarios, and to explore the conditions under which microrefuges can maintain genetic diversity of populations exposed to recurrent fire. Spatial heterogeneity in simulated fire frequency occurred in topographically complex landscapes, with fire refuges and fire‐prone “hotspots” apparent. Interannual weather variability reduced the effect of topography on fire patterns, with refuges less apparent under high weather variability. Neutral genetic diversity was correlated with long‐term fire frequency under spatially heterogeneous fire regimes, being higher in fire refuges than fire‐prone areas, except under high dispersal or low fire severity (low mortality). This generated different spatial genetic structures in fire‐prone and fire‐refuge components of the landscape, despite similar dispersal. In contrast, genetic diversity was only associated with time since the most recent fire in flat landscapes without predictable refuges and hotspots. Genetic effects of selection driven by fire‐related conditions depended on selection pressure, migration distance and spatial heterogeneity in fire regimes. Allele frequencies at a locus conferring higher fitness under successional environmental conditions followed a pattern of “temporal adaptation” to contemporary conditions under strong selection pressure and high migration. However, selected allele frequencies were correlated with spatial variation in long‐term mean fire frequency (relating to environmental predictability) under weak dispersal, low selection pressure and strong spatial heterogeneity in fire regimes.
Changes in health‐related quality of life in older candidates waiting for kidney transplantation
Authors: Lønning Kjersti , Midtvedt Karsten , Bernklev Tomm , Brunborg Cathrine , Andersen Marit H , von der Lippe Nanna , Reisæter Anna V , Line Pål‐Dag , Hartmann Anders , Heldal Kristian 
Published: July 2017

Summary at a GlanceIn a cohort of 261 elderly Norwegian patients with CKD stage 5 accepted for transplant, health‐related quality of life decreased modestly during the first year on the waiting list. This study provides some reassurance that selected elderly transplant candidates maintain reasonable quality of life while awaiting deceased donor kidney transplantation.
Measuring the social impact of dental research: An insight into the most influential articles on the Web
Authors: Delli K. , Livas C. , Spijkervet F.K.L. , Vissink A. 
Published: July 2017

ObjectivesTo identify the most discussed dental articles on the Web and to assess the association between the intensity of online attention, publication characteristics, and citations.Materials and methodsAn Altmetric Explorer search was conducted for articles published in the 91 dental journals included in 2015 InCites™ Journal Citation Report® and mentioned online at all times. The 100 articles with the highest online attention, as measured by the “Altmetric Attention Score” (AAS), were screened for journal title, quartile of impact factor distribution (Q1–Q4), publication date, origin and affiliation of first author, article topic, type, and access. Citation counts were harvested from Scopus.ResultsThe top 100 articles presented a median AAS of 119 and were mostly discussed on news outlets, Twitter, and Mendeley. Forty‐one articles were published in Q1 journals, 24 in Q2 journals, 32 in Q3 journals, and three in Q4 journals. AAS was significantly higher in articles of Q2 journals (median AAS = 398, range = 70–513) than in articles of Q1. A weak reverse correlation existed between AAS and time since publication (r = −.25, p < .05). No correlation was detected between AAS and other publication characteristics or number of citations.ConclusionsIncreased social impact of dental articles is not significantly associated with high citation rates.
Dual‐site right ventricular pacing in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy: Results of a multicenter propensity‐matched analysis
Authors: Providencia Rui , Barra Sergio , Papageorgiou Nikolaos , Ioannou Adam , Rogers Dominic , Wongwarawipat Tanakal , Falconer Debbie , Duehmke Rudolf , Colicchia Martina , Babu Girish , Segal Oliver R. , Sporton Simon , Dhinoja Mehul , Ahsan Syed , Ezzat Vivienne , Rowland Edward , Lowe Martin , Lambiase Pier D. , Agarwal Sharad , Chow Anthony W. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundDual‐site right ventricular pacing (Dual RV) has been proposed as an alternative for patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with a failure to deliver a coronary sinus (CS) lead. Only short‐term hemodynamic and echocardiographic results of Dual RV are available. We aimed to assess the long‐term results of Dual RV and its impact on survival.MethodsMulticenter retrospective assessment of all CRT implants during a 12‐year period. Patients with failed CS lead implantation, treated with Dual RV, were followed and assessed for the primary endpoint of all‐cause mortality and/or heart transplant. A control group was obtained from contemporary patients using propensity matching for all available baseline variables.ResultsNinety‐three patients were implanted with Dual RV devices and compared with 93 matched controls. During a median of 1,273 days (interquartile range 557–2,218), intention‐to‐treat analysis showed that all‐cause mortality and/or heart transplant was higher in the Dual RV group (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–2.47, P = 0.012). As‐treated analysis yielded similar results (HR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.31–2.96, P = 0.001). Cardiac device‐related infections occurred seven times more frequently in the Dual RV site group (HR = 7.60, 95% CI 1.51–38.33, P = 0.014). Among Dual RV nonresponders, four had their apical leads switched off, five required an epicardial LV lead insertion, a transseptal LV lead was implanted in two, and in nine patients, after reviewing the CS venogram, a new CS lead insertion was successfully attempted.ConclusionDual RV pacing is associated with worse clinical outcomes and higher complication rates than conventional CRT.
LALF32‐51‐E7, a HPV‐16 therapeutic vaccine candidate, forms protein body‐like structures when expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves
Authors: Yanez Romana J. R. , Lamprecht Renate , Granadillo Milaid , Torrens Isis , Arcalís Elsa , Stöger Eva , Rybicki Edward P. , Hitzeroth Inga I. 
Published: July 2017

SummaryHigh‐risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) cause cervical cancer, and while there are good prophylactic vaccines on the market, these are ineffective against established infections, creating a clear need for therapeutic vaccines. The HPV E7 protein is one of the essential oncoproteins for the onset and maintenance of malignancy and is therefore an ideal therapeutic vaccine target. We fused the HPV‐16 E7 protein to the Limulus polyphemus antilipopolysaccharide factor (LALF32‐51), a small hydrophobic peptide that can penetrate cell membranes and that has immunomodulatory properties. LALF32‐51‐E7 was transiently expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana, and we previously determined that it accumulated better when targeted to chloroplasts compared to being localized in the cytoplasm. Subsequently, we aimed to prove whether LALF32‐51‐E7 was indeed associated with the chloroplasts by determining its subcellular localization. The LALF32‐51‐E7 gene was fused to one encoding enhanced GFP to generate a LG fusion protein, and localization was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The fluorescence observed from chloroplast‐targeted LG was distinctively different from that of the cytoplasmic LG. Small spherical structures resembling protein bodies (PBs) were seen that clearly localized with the chloroplasts. Larger but less abundant PB‐like structures were also seen for the cytoplasmic LG. PB‐like structure formation was confirmed for both LG and LALF32‐51‐E7 by TEM. LALF32‐51‐E7 was indeed targeted to the chloroplasts by the chloroplast transit peptide used in this study, and it formed aggregated PB‐like structures. This study could open a new avenue for the use of LALF32‐51 as a PB‐inducing peptide.
Cultivar‐dependent partial resistance and associated defence mechanisms in wheat against Zymoseptoria tritici
Authors: Ors M. E. , Randoux B. , Selim S. , Siah A. , Couleaud G. , Maumené C. , Sahmer K. , Halama P. , Reignault P. 
Published: July 2017

Septoria tritici blotch caused by the fungus Zymoseptoria tritici is one of the most devastating foliar diseases of wheat. Knowledge regarding mechanisms involved in resistance against this disease is required to breed durable resistances. This study compared the expression of defence and pathogenicity determinants in three cultivars in semicontrolled culture conditions. The most susceptible cultivar, Alixan, presented higher necrosis and pycnidia density levels than Altigo, the most resistant one. In Premio, a moderately resistant cultivar, necrosis developed as in Alixan, while pycnidia developed as in Altigo. In noninfectious conditions, genes coding for PR1 (pr1), glucanase (gluc) and allene oxide synthase (aos) were constitutively expressed at a higher level in both Altigo and Premio than in Alixan, while chitinase2 (chit2), phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (pal), peroxidase (pox2) and oxalate oxidase (oxo) were expressed at a higher level in Premio only. Except for aos, all genes were induced in Alixan during the first steps of the symptomless infection phase. Only pox2, oxo, gluc and pal genes in Altigo and pal, chs and lox genes in Premio were up‐regulated at some time points. Basal cultivar‐dependent resistance against Z. tritici could therefore be explained by various gene expression patterns rather than high expression levels of given genes. During the necrotrophic phase, Z. tritici cell wall‐degrading enzyme activity levels were lower in Altigo and Premio than in Alixan, and were associated more with pycnidia than with necrosis. Similar tissue colonization occurred in the three cultivars, suggesting an inhibition of the switch to the necrotrophic lifestyle in Altigo.
Perceived Organizational Red Tape and Organizational Performance in Public Services
Authors: Jacobsen Christian Bøtcher , Jakobsen Mads Leth 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe claim that perceived organizational red tape hampers public services has become a central theme in public administration research. Surprisingly, however, few scholars have empirically examined the impact of perceived red tape on organizational performance. This article empirically analyzes how perceived organizational red tape among managers and frontline staff relates to objectively measured performance. The data consist of survey responses from teachers and principals at Danish upper secondary schools combined with grade‐level administrative performance data. Based on theories of red tape and motivation crowding, the authors hypothesize that perceived organizational red tape reduces performance within such organizations. The empirical result is a small negative relationship between staff perception of red tape and performance and no relationship between manager‐perceived red tape and performance.