bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Industry sponsorship in trials on fluoride varnish or gels for caries prevention
Authors: Reda Seif , Elhennawy Karim , Meyer‐Lückel Hendrik , Paris Sebastian , Schwendicke Falk 
Published: February 2017

AbstractObjectivesFluoride is effective for caries prevention, but trials on fluoride varnish or gels are often industry‐sponsored. We assessed trial design and findings in sponsored and nonsponsored trials on fluoride varnish and fluoride gels for caries prevention.MethodsData on trials included in the most recent Cochrane Reviews on fluoride varnish and fluoride gels were extracted. Sample sizes/age/dentition, year/country of publication, follow‐up, test and control, risk of bias and spin (claims of a beneficial effect that were not supported by reported data) were assessed. Studies were categorized as certainly, possibly and not sponsored, and statistically compared. Inverse‐generic meta‐analysis and multivariable weighted least‐squares meta‐regression were used to assess impact of sponsorship status on effect estimates.ResultsBased on 19 nonsponsored, 14 possibly sponsored and 11 certainly sponsored trials, sponsored studies were published significantly earlier, always had >1 test group, and had significantly lower risk of spin. Caries‐preventive effects were higher in earlier trials, without indication for sponsorship bias in trials published until 1990 (there were no sponsored trials afterwards). If assessing the overall body of evidence and accounting for confounders, the caries‐preventive effect was significantly associated with year of publication (β: −0.06, 95% CI: −0.10/−0.02), but not sponsorship status.ConclusionsIndustry‐sponsorship bias had limited impact on the overall evidence.
Debunking Occam's razor: Diagnosing multiple genetic diseases in families by whole‐exome sequencing
Authors: Balci T.B. , Hartley T. , Xi Y. , Dyment D.A. , Beaulieu C.L. , Bernier F.P. , Dupuis L. , Horvath G.A. , Mendoza‐Londono R. , Prasad C. , Richer J. , Yang X.‐R. , Armour C.M. , Bareke E. , Fernandez B.A. , McMillan H.J. , Lamont R.E. , Majewski J. , Parboosingh J.S. , Prasad A.N. , Rupar C.A. , Schwartzentruber J. , Smith A.C. , Tétreault M. ,   FORGE Canada Consortium,   Care4Rare Canada Consortium, Innes A.M. , Boycott K.M. 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundRecent clinical whole exome sequencing (WES) cohorts have identified unanticipated multiple genetic diagnoses in single patients. However, the frequency of multiple genetic diagnoses in families is largely unknown.AimsWe set out to identify the rate of multiple genetic diagnoses in probands and their families referred for analysis in two national research programs in Canada.Materials & MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed WES results for 802 undiagnosed probands referred over the past 5 years in either the FORGE or Care4Rare Canada WES initiatives.ResultsOf the 802 probands, 226 (28.2%) were diagnosed based on mutations in known disease genes. Eight (3.5%) had two or more genetic diagnoses explaining their clinical phenotype, a rate in keeping with the large published studies (average 4.3%; 1.4 ‐ 7.2%). Seven of the 8 probands had family members with one or more of the molecularly diagnosed diseases. Consanguinity and multisystem disease appeared to increase the likelihood of multiple genetic diagnoses in a family.ConclusionOur findings highlight the importance of comprehensive clinical phenotyping of family members to ultimately provide accurate genetic counseling.
Optimal data partitioning, multispecies coalescent and Bayesian concordance analyses resolve early divergences of the grape family (Vitaceae)
Authors: Lu Limin , Cox Cymon J. , Mathews Sarah , Wang Wei , Wen Jun , Chen Zhiduan 
Published: February 2017

AbstractEvolutionary rate heterogeneity and rapid radiations are common phenomena in organismal evolution and represent major challenges for reconstructing deep‐level phylogenies. Here we detected substantial conflicts in and among data sets as well as uncertainty concerning relationships among lineages of Vitaceae from individual gene trees, supernetworks and tree certainty values. Congruent deep‐level relationships of Vitaceae were retrieved by comprehensive comparisons of results from optimal partitioning analyses, multispecies coalescent approaches and the Bayesian concordance method. We found that partitioning schemes selected by PartitionFinder were preferred over those by gene or by codon position, and the unpartitioned model usually performed the worst. For a data set with conflicting signals, however, the unpartitioned model outperformed models that included more partitions, demonstrating some limitations to the effectiveness of concatenation for these data. For a transcriptome data set, fast coalescent methods (STAR and MP‐EST) and a Bayesian concordance approach yielded congruent topologies with trees from the concatenated analyses and previous studies. Our results highlight that well‐resolved gene trees are critical for the effectiveness of coalescent‐based methods. Future efforts to improve the accuracy of phylogenomic analyses should emphasize the development of new methods that can accommodate multiple biological processes and tolerate missing data while remaining computationally tractable.
Oesophageal Doppler guided optimization of cardiac output does not increase visceral microvascular blood flow in healthy volunteers
Authors: Heinink Thomas P. , Read David J. , Mitchell William K. , Bhalla Ashish , Lund Jonathan N. , Phillips Bethan E. , Williams John P. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryBackgroundOesophageal Doppler monitoring (ODM) is used clinically to optimize cardiac output (CO) and guide fluid therapy. Despite limited experimental evidence, it is assumed that increasing CO increases visceral microvascular blood flow (MBF). We used contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to assess whether ODM‐guided optimization of CO altered MBF.MethodsSixteen healthy male volunteers (62 ± 3·4 years) were studied. Baseline measurements of CO were recorded via ODM. Hepatic and renal MBF was assessed via CEUS. Saline 0·9% was administered to optimize CO according to a standard protocol and repeat CEUS performed. Time–intensity curves were constructed, allowing organ perfusion calculation via time to 5% perfusion (TT5). MBF was assessed via organ perfusion rise time (RT) (5–95%).ResultsCO increased (4535 ± 241 ml/min versus 5442 ± 329 ml/min, P<0·0001) following fluid administration, whilst time to renal (22·48 ± 1·19 s versus 20·79 ± 1·31 s; P = 0·03), but not hepatic (28·13 ± 4·48 s versus 26·83 ± 1·53 s; P = 0·15) perfusion decreased. Time to renal perfusion was related to CO (renal: r = −0·43, P = 0·01). Hepatic nor renal RT altered following fluid administration (renal: 9·03 ± 0·86 versus 8·93 ± 0·85 s P = 0·86; hepatic: 27·86 ± 1·60 s versus 30·71 ± 2·19 s, P = 0·13). No relationship was observed between changes in CO and MBF in either organ (renal: r = −0·17, P = 0·54; hepatic: r = −0·07, P = 0·80).ConclusionsODM‐optimized CO reduces time to renal perfusion but does not alter renal or hepatic MBF. A lack of relationship between microvascular visceral perfusion and CO following ODM‐guided optimization may explain the absence of improved clinical outcome with ODM monitoring.
Competition under Diseconomies of Scale: The Role of Subcontracting and Single‐Sourcing Commitment
Authors: Shao Lusheng 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTThis article studies a supplier competition model in situations with flexible resources where suppliers face diseconomies of scale. Under such a situation, it is generally believed that a buyer may split an order across different suppliers; and even if the buyer chooses only one supplier, the winning supplier may subcontract part of the work to the others. My results, however, show that the buyer always prefers to commit to single‐sourcing prior to running a procurement auction. This is because such commitment eliminates the “assurance” of getting a positive order from the buyer, thus intensifying supplier competition. I also find that subcontracting may be beneficial (detrimental) to the buyer if the subcontract is determined by the winning (losing) supplier of the bidding game. Finally, I show that, for the case with linear costs, the buyer is always better off when subcontracting is considered.
Parasitic association of the mycetophagous wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus fraudulentus with the honey fungus Armillaria ostoyae
Authors: Tomalak M. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryHoney fungi, Armillaria spp. are common and economically important pathogens of a wide range of tree species grown both in the forest and orchard cultures worldwide. Our field research in 73 forest stands across Poland has shown a common association of the mycetophagous wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus fraudulentus with Armillaria‐infected trees. The data reported here provide the first insight into the parasitic interaction of a nematode and Armillaria ostoyae. In laboratory conditions, B. fraudulentus reproduced on A. ostoyae, caused substantial damage to its mycelium and, finally, killed the whole colony within a short time. In ageing cultures, the nematode produced resting (dauer) juveniles. After artificial inoculation to Armillaria‐infected trees, the nematode population persisted under the bark, continued feeding and mass reproduction on the mycelium, and dispersed over the mycelial fans. The ability of B. fraudulentus to develop and reproduce on the surface and inside the fungal rhizomorphs suggests that these structures could facilitate the nematode dispersion in the environment. Since B. fraudulentus is not pathogenic to the host tree, its parasitic association with A. ostoyae may contribute to natural regulation of this fungus in the environment. The observed characteristics of this nematode suggest that it could potentially be used as a biocontrol agent of honey fungi in forest and orchard trees.
New and unexpected host associations for Diplodia sapinea in the Western Balkans
Authors: Zlatković M. , Keča N. , Wingfield M. J. , Jami F. , Slippers B. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryDiplodia sapinea is an important pathogen of pine trees in plantations and urban areas in many parts of the world. This pathogen has recently also been isolated from diseased Cedrus atlantica, C. deodara and Picea omorika planted as ornamentals across the Western Balkans. The aim of this study was to consider the host range of D. sapinea in Serbia and Montenegro. Diplodia sapinea was identified from a broader collection of Botryosphaeriaceae from the Western Balkans region, based on the DNA sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and the translation elongation factor 1α (TEF 1‐ α). The D. sapinea isolates were obtained from sixteen tree species in the genera Abies, Cedrus, Chamaecyparis, Juniperus, Picea, Pinus, Pseudotsuga and Fagus. Four species represented new hosts in the Balkans, and this is the first report of D. sapinea from F. sylvatica anywhere in the world. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on the tree hosts from which D. sapinea was isolated, as well as on P. abies, Thuja occidentalis, Prunus laurocerasus, Eucalyptus grandis and P. patula. Inoculations were made on seedlings in the field, in the greenhouse or on freshly detached branches. Inoculations on P. pungens, P. omorika, P. abies, P. menziesii, A. concolor, P. nigra and P. sylvestris resulted in death of the seedlings 5–16 weeks after inoculation. Diplodia sapinea produced lesions on J. horizontalis and P. patula seedlings and F. sylvatica cut branches. Reciprocal inoculations showed that D. sapinea is not a pine‐specific pathogen, causing disease on tree species, including those from which it had not been isolated. Not surprisingly, the pathogen was most aggressive on some species of Pinaceae.
Evidence for the role of histaminergic pathways in neuroprotective mechanism of ischemic postconditioning in mice
Authors: Kaur Indresh , Kumar Amit , Jaggi Amteshwar S. , Singh Nirmal 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe present study has been designed to investigate the possible role of histaminergic pathway in neuroprotective mechanism of ischemic postconditioning (iPoCo). Bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO) for 12 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h was employed to produce I/R‐induced cerebral injury in National Institutes of Health mice mice. iPoCo involving three episodes of carotid artery occlusion and reperfusion of 10 sec each was instituted immediately after BCAO just before prolonged reperfusion. Cerebral infarct size was measured using triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. Memory was evaluated using Morris water maze test. Rotarod test, inclined beam‐walking test, and neurological severity score (NSS) were performed to assess motor incoordination and sensorimotor abilities. Brain acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity, brain myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, brain thiobarbituric acid‐reactive species (TBARS), and glutathione level (GSH) were also estimated. BCAO produced a significant rise in cerebral infarct size and NSS along with impairment of memory and motor coordination and biochemical alteration (↑AChE, ↑MPO ↓GSH, and ↑TBARS). iPoCo attenuated the deleterious effect of BCAO on infarct size, memory, NSS, motor coordination, and biochemical markers. Pretreatment of carnosine (a histamine [HA] precursor) potentiated the neuroprotective effects of iPoCo, whereas pretreatment of ketotifen (HA H1 receptor blocker and mast cell stabilizer) abolished the protective effects of iPoCo as well as that of carnosine on iPoCo. It may be concluded that neuroprotective effect of iPoCo probably involves activation of histaminergic pathways.
The predictive validity of individual psychological assessments in selecting UK public sector senior managers
Authors: Weldon Paul T. , Fletcher Clive , MacIver Rab 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIndividual Psychological Assessment (IPA) is a very widely offered service in Organizational Psychology. It generally consists of a psychologist or HR practitioner using a combination of interview and psychometrics to arrive at a detailed assessment of an individual's capabilities in relation to a job they are being considered for. Although much used, this practice has limited supporting evidence of its validity—not least because of the methodological difficulties in conducting research on this subject—and has been criticized accordingly. The current study examines the use of IPAs with 115 middle and senior management level candidates in a civil service context. All candidates completed a set of psychometric measures and had an in‐depth interview with a psychologist as part of a standardized process. The ratings made by the assessors were correlated with a criterion measure of potential for promotion derived from multisource feedback ratings obtained on these candidates some months later. Analysis of the results indicated that three of the four attributes rated by assessors correlated significantly with the criterion measure. Further, assessors’ ratings were found to show incremental validity over that provided by psychometric test scores alone. These findings are discussed in terms of the use of IPAs in senior level assessment.
Development and psychometric examination of a German video‐based situational judgment test for social competencies in medical school applicants
Authors: Fröhlich Melanie , Kahmann Janine , Kadmon Martina 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe present study describes the development and validation of a video‐based situational judgment test (SJT) assessing social competencies in applicants to medical school. Study 1 explored the psychometric properties of the SJT based on two applicant cohorts (N1 = 769, N2 = 787). Study 2 compared SJT data from applicants and 90 medical students. Tests for mean differences, correlation and factor analyses were used. In Study 1, the supposed two‐factor model for the SJT must be rejected. According to the minimum average partial test a single factor solution explaining 19–21% of the variance was suggested. The SJT showed satisfactory psychometric properties and stronger correlations to personality than to cognition as well as high acceptance. In study 2, applicants reached higher SJT scores than students.
Metaheuristics for solving the biobjective single‐path multicommodity communication flow problem
Authors: Masri Hela , Krichen Saoussen , Guitouni Adel 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSingle‐path multicommodity flow problem (SMCFP) is a well‐known combinatorial optimization problem, in which the flow of each commodity can be transmitted using only one path linking its destination to an appropriate origin within the addressed network. In this paper, we study the SMCFP in a multiobjective context by considering the simultaneous optimization of paths' delay and average reliability. The network is modeled as a finite set of nodes that can communicate using preestablished connections where each connection is characterized by a capacity, a lead time, and a reliability. A node can be an information producer or/and information consumer. The contention problem is solved by assigning a path and a dedicated bandwidth to each flow. The problem is formulated as a biobjective nonlinear optimization problem. This biobjective problem has not been considered in the literature. We design three alternative procedures for approximating the Pareto front. We proposed an MGA based on NSGA‐II, a multiobjective variable neighborhood search and a new distance‐based hybrid metaheuristic. The hybridization integrates a local search into the framework of genetic algorithm to effectively drive the search toward a better approximating of the Pareto front. The propounded algorithms' efficiencies are experimentally investigated on a test bed of instances applied to a planar and a grid network. A comparative study is conducted based on different multiobjective performance indicators.
Divided Sovereignty, Nation and Legal Community
Authors: Günther Klaus 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWith a view to EU democracy, Jürgen Habermas introduced the idea that the relationship between the roles of state citizens and European citizens should be understood as a form of ‘divided sovereignty’. This notion is a constructive solution to theoretical problems resulting from the goal of realizing national and European democracy at the same time, but one might suspect that one of the suggested roles comes more naturally to most citizens. While state citizenship can draw on national identities, EU citizenship appears artificial and constructed, and hence not very attractive. I argue that the contraposition of ‘natural’ vs. ‘artificial’ sovereigns is inadequate. Both parts of divided sovereignty need to be understood in a constructivist sense as they are attributed to legal associations. Much in the same way as the idea of national sovereignty had to be appropriated in learning processes, citizens could grow into the role of EU sovereigns.
Lifestyle change reduces cardiometabolic risk factors and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels in obese first‐degree relatives of people with diabetes
Authors: Bowes A. , Begley J. , Kerr D. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundPreventing type 2 diabetes in a real‐world setting remains challenging. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a lifestyle‐based programme for individuals at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes as assessed by achieved weight loss, cardiovascular risk factors and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1).MethodsSixty‐six obese individuals with history of diabetes in first‐degree relatives participated in an 8‐month lifestyle programme consisting of 12 × 1.25 h group education sessions led by dietitian and a weekly exercise programme. Before and after comparisons were made of fasting blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, lipids, GLP‐1 and quality of life (QoL).ResultsFifty‐four participants of whom the majority were women [47 females; mean (SD) body mass index 35.3 (2.8) kg m−2; age = 52 (10) years] completed the 8‐month programme. Mean (SD) weight loss was 10.1 (6.0) kg (P < 0.001). Out of 54 participants, 36 lost more than 7% of their body weight and 47 lost more than 5%, with significant improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, glycaemia and QoL scores. The fall was observed in basal (P < 0.05 versus baseline) but not stimulated GLP‐1 levels. In the subgroup of participants losing >10 kg, a correlation was found between weight change and change in both basal (r = 0.61, P < 0.05) and stimulated (r = 0.49, P < 0.05) GLP‐1.ConclusionsAn evidence‐based lifestyle programme achieved sustained weight loss in obese first‐degree relatives of individuals with type 2 diabetes associated with improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors and QoL without the ‘voltage drop’ of less benefit commonly seen when moving from the clinical trial experience into the real world.
ORA59 and EIN3 interaction couples jasmonate‐ethylene synergistic action to antagonistic salicylic acid regulation of PDF expression
Authors: He Xiang , Jiang Jishan , Wang Chang‐Quan , Dehesh Katayoon 
Published: February 2017

AbstractHormonal crosstalk is central for tailoring plant responses to the nature of challenges encountered. The role of antagonism between the two major defense hormones, salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA), and modulation of this interplay by ethylene (ET) in favor of JA signaling pathway in plant stress responses is well recognized, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we show the opposing function of two transcription factors, ethylene insensitive3 (EIN3) and EIN3‐Like1 (EIL1), in SA‐mediated suppression and JA‐mediated activation of PLANT DEFENSIN1.2 (PDF1.2). This functional duality is mediated via their effect on protein, not transcript levels of the PDF1.2 transcriptional activator octadecanoid‐responsive Arabidopsis59 (ORA59). Specifically, JA induces ORA59 protein levels independently of EIN3/EIL1, whereas SA reduces the protein levels dependently of EIN3/EIL1. Co‐infiltration assays revealed nuclear co‐localization of ORA59 and EIN3, and split‐luciferase together with yeast‐two‐hybrid assays established their physical interaction. The functional ramification of the physical interaction is EIN3‐dependent degradation of ORA59 by the 26S proteasome.These findings allude to SA‐responsive reduction of ORA59 levels mediated by EIN3 binding to and targeting of ORA59 for degradation, thus nominating ORA59 pool as a coordination node for the antagonistic function of ET/JA and SA.
Endothelin‐converting enzymes degrade α‐synuclein and are reduced in dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Miners James Scott , Love Seth 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWe have examined the roles of the endothelin‐converting enzyme‐1 and ‐2 (ECE‐1 and ECE‐2) in the homeostasis of α‐synuclein (α‐syn) and pathogenesis of Lewy body disease. The ECEs are named for their ability to convert inactive big endothelin to the vasoactive peptide endothelin‐1 (EDN1). We have found that ECE‐1 and ECE‐2 cleave and degrade α‐syn in vitro and siRNA‐mediated knockdown of ECE‐1 and ECE‐2 in SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells significantly increased α‐syn both intracellularly (within the cell lysate) (p < 0.05 for both ECE‐1 and ‐2) and extracellularly (in the surrounding medium) (p < 0.05 for ECE‐1 and p = 0.07 for ECE‐2). Double immunofluorescent labelling showed co‐localization of ECE‐1 and ECE‐2 with α‐syn within the endolysosomal system (confirmed by a proximity ligation assay). To assess the possible relevance of these findings to human Lewy body disease, we measured ECE‐1 and ECE‐2 levels by sandwich ELISA in post‐mortem samples of cingulate cortex (a region with a predilection for Lewy body pathology) in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and age‐matched controls. ECE‐1 (p < 0.001) and ECE‐2 (p < 0.01) levels were significantly reduced in DLB and both enzymes correlated inversely with the severity of Lewy body pathology as indicated by the level of α‐syn phosphorylated at Ser129 (r = −0.54, p < 0.01 for ECE‐1 and r = −0.49, p < 0.05 for ECE‐2). Our novel findings suggest a role for ECEs in the metabolism of α‐syn that could contribute to the development and progression of DLB.
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