bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of Mycoplasma spp. and feline calicivirus in cats with ocular surface disease
Authors: Lewin Andrew C. , Zhu Xiaojuan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveTo survey the prevalence of pathogens in shelter‐housed cats with active ocular surface disease (OSD).Animals StudiedA total of 255 shelter‐housed domestic cats with evidence of active OSD. No normal, unaffected cats were sampled.Procedure(s)OSD scoring was performed on cats with active OSD. Combined oropharyngeal/conjunctival swabs were submitted for rt‐PCR/PCR for feline herpesvirus (FHV‐1), feline calicivirus (FCV), Chlamydia spp. (CHL), Bordetella bronchiseptica (BORD), and Mycoplasma spp. (MYC).ResultsPathogens were detected as follows: 76.4% (195/255) MYC, 57.6% (147/255) FHV‐1, 42.7% (109/255) FCV, 26.7% (68/255) CHL, and 5.5% (14/255) BORD. Monoinfections affected 21.1% (54/255) animals, with MYC being the most common monoinfection (12.5%, 32/255), followed by FHV‐1 (4.7%, 12/255), followed by CHL (2.4%, 6/255), followed by FCV (1.6%, 4/255), with no animals having a BORD monoinfection. Dual infections affected 36.4% of animals (93/255), with MYC detected in 30.1% (77/255) dual infections and FCV detected in 12.9% (33/255) dual infections. Dual infections with MYC and FCV together were detected in 9.8% (25/255) animals. Many animals (35.3%, 90/255) were found to be affected by 3 or more pathogens, and 7.1% (18/255) animals had no pathogens detected. OSD scores were not influenced by any variable assessed, including the number and type of pathogens detected.ConclusionMYC, FHV‐1, FCV, and CHL were commonly detected in this group of animals with OSD. Both MYC and FCV (alone or in combination with each other) were detected in multiple animals with active OSD, supporting prior evidence that either may independently act as a primary ocular surface pathogen.
An alternative surgical technique for removal of multiple uveal cysts in a dog: A case report
Authors: Reis Alysha M. , Olivero Dennis K. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractUveal cysts have been reported to cause vision changes in dogs. The objective of this article is to report removing multiple uveal cysts from both eyes of a canine patient using a previously unreported methodology. A bimanual irrigation and aspiration procedure is reported here as an alternative method for managing multiple anterior segment iris cysts in the dog. The results of the surgery were mild postoperative inflammation that resolved within 1 week and no other complications were encountered. Overall, the authors conclude that the procedure was a less invasive alternative to the traditional approaches for removal of multiple uveal cysts including laser rupture of cysts, direct aspiration or removal using coaxial irrigation and aspiration through a standard clear corneal approach to the anterior chamber with or without the aid of viscoelastic floatation. The procedure eliminated the need for sutures, marked activity restrictions, or an Elizabethan collar postoperatively. This is the first report of bimanual irrigation and aspiration for multiple uveal cyst removal in dogs.
Risk of rabies reintroduction into the European Union as a result of the Russo‐Ukrainian war: A quantitative disease risk analysis
Authors: Cobby Tirion Rebecca , Eisler Mark Charles 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimsThe importation of rabid animals poses a continual threat to rabies freedom in the European Union (EU). Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Commission eased the rules on companion animal importations for Ukrainian refugees through derogations to the EU Pet Travel Scheme (EU PETS). As Ukraine remains endemic for canine rabies, this paper aimed to quantitatively assess whether the change in regulations affected the risk of rabies introduction to the EU.Method and ResultsTransmission pathways for both EU PETS and derogations to this scheme were considered, as well as the scenarios of 100% compliance and reduced compliance within both schemes. Stochastic modelling was performed via a Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the median and 95% confidence intervals of the annual risk of rabies entry and the years between rabies entries into the EU. Following 100% compliance, the derogation scheme posed a significantly lower risk at a value of 3.63 × 10−3 (CI 95% 1.18 × 10−3–9.34 × 10−3) rabies entries per year in comparison to EU PETS where the risk was 4.25 × 10−2 (CI 95% 1.44 × 10−2–9.81 × 10−2). Despite a significantly lower risk as compared to EU PETS under 100% compliance, the derogation scheme was more sensitive to a reduction in compliance which resulted in a 74‐fold increase in risk. Given this, even under reduced compliance, the annual risk remained lower under the derogation scheme, although this was not statistically significant.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that a 4‐month period of quarantine, as modelled for the derogation scenario, could reduce the annual risk of rabies entry. This scheme may present a viable solution for the management of companion animal influxes in future crises.
Racial and ethnic disparities in Lyme disease in the United States
Authors: Gould L. Hannah , Fathalla Adam , Moïsi Jennifer C. , Stark James H. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIntroductionLyme disease (LD), caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common vector‐borne disease in the United States. Although most surveillance‐reported cases are in people who are White, data suggest worse outcomes among people from racial and ethnic minority groups.MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature review to describe racial disparities in LD. We described the epidemiology of LD by race and ethnicity, including clinical presentation at diagnosis, and summarised the literature on knowledge, attitudes and practices related to LD and ticks by race and ethnicity.ResultsOverall, the incidence and prevalence of LD were 1.2–3.5 times higher in White persons than in persons who identified as Asian or Pacific Islander and 4.5–6.3 times higher in White persons than in persons who identified as Black. Across multiple studies, people from racial and ethnic minority groups were more likely than White people to have disseminated manifestations of LD, including neurological manifestations and arthritis, and less likely to have erythema migrans. People from racial and ethnic minority groups were also more likely to report disease onset in the fall and less likely to report disease onset in the summer. Possible reasons for these disparities include lack of recognition of the disease in people with darker skin tones, lack of knowledge of disease risk for some groups and differences in exposure risk.ConclusionsTaken together, these results reinforce that all people residing in high‐incidence areas are at risk of LD, regardless of race or ethnicity. Future prevention measures should be broadly targeted to reach all at‐risk populations.
Recovering p$p$‐adic valuations from pro‐p$p$ Galois groups
Authors: Koenigsmann Jochen , Strommen Kristian 
Published: April 2024

AbstractLet be a field with , where denotes the maximal pro‐2 quotient of the absolute Galois group of a field . We prove that then admits a (non‐trivial) valuation which is 2‐henselian and has residue field . Furthermore, is a minimal positive element in the value group and . This forms the first positive result on a more general conjecture about recovering ‐adic valuations from pro‐ Galois groups which we formulate precisely. As an application, we show how this result can be used to easily obtain number‐theoretic information, by giving an independent proof of a strong version of the birational section conjecture for smooth, complete curves over , as well as an analogue for varieties.
Influence of Mechanical Properties of Tube on Forming Limits and Deformation Characteristics in an Expansion Drawing Process
Authors: Zhang S. L. , Kuboki T. , Akiyama M. , Kajikawa S. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This paper describes an efficient method of manufacturing thin-walled metal tubes. The proposed method is an expansion drawing and it consists of two stages, flaring and drawing, during which high thickness reduction is achieved because the tube being processed is subjected to tensile stress in both the circumferential and axial directions. The optimal plug half-angle for various materials is investigated using a finite element analysis and experiments, revealing the plug shape with the highest expansion limit and the highest thickness reduction ratio. To investigate the deformation characteristics of different materials during the expansion drawing process, the strain in tubes formed using different materials was measured experimentally using a square grid on the outer surface of the tubes. In addition, a finite element analysis using hypothetical material properties revealed that the work-hardening exponent and friction coefficient affect tube deformation. The results of this work explain the influences of material properties on experimentally observed phenomena. Materials with a large work-hardening exponent are less prone to thinning during forming and have a greater forming limit. On the other hand, the larger the friction coefficient between the plug and the mother tube, the larger the deformation in the axial direction was, and then the thickness reduction increased due to biaxial tension.
A Pilot Randomized Trial of Combined Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Exercise Training Versus Exercise Training Alone for the Management of Chronic Insomnia in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Cammalleri Amanda , Perrault Aurore A. , Hillcoat Alexandra , Carrese-Chacra Emily , Tarelli Lukia , Patel Rahul , Baltzan Marc , Chouchou Florian , Dang-Vu Thien Thanh , Gouin Jean-Philippe , Pepin Veronique 
Published: April 2024

Insomnia treatment among individuals with comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea is suboptimal. In a pilot randomized controlled trial, 19 individuals with comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea were allocated to one of two arms: EX + EX, consisting of two 8-week phases of exercise training (EX), or RE + CBTiEX, encompassing 8 weeks of relaxation training (RE) followed by 8 weeks of combined cognitive-behavioral therapy and exercise (CBTiEX). Outcomes included Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), polysomnography, and cardiorespiratory fitness measures. A mixed-model analysis of variance revealed a Group × Time interaction on peak oxygen consumption change, F(1, 14) = 10.1, p = .007, and EX increased peak oxygen consumption (p = .03, g′ = −0.41) and reduced ISI (p = .001, g′ = 0.82) compared with RE (p = .49, g = 0.16) post-8 weeks. Post-16 weeks, there was a significant Group × Time interaction (p = .014) driven by RE + CBTiEX yielding a larger improvement in ISI (p = .023, g′ = 1.48) than EX + EX (p = .88, g′ < 0.1). Objective sleep was unchanged. This study showed promising effects of regular EX alone and combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia on ISI in comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea.
A flow equilibrium of zinc in cells of
Cupriavidus metallidurans
Authors: Nies Dietrich H. , Schleuder Grit , Galea Diana , Herzberg Martin 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

The hypothesis was tested that a kinetical flow equilibrium of uptake and efflux reactions is responsible for balancing the cellular zinc content. The experiments were done with the metal-resistant bacterium
Cupriavidus metallidurans
. In pulse-chase experiments, the cells were loaded with radioactive
65
Zn and chased with the 100-fold concentration of non-radioactive zinc chloride. In parallel, the cells were loaded with isotope-enriched stable
67
Zn and chased with non-enriched zinc to differentiate between zinc pools in the cell. The experiments demonstrated the existence of a kinetical flow equilibrium, resulting in a constant turnover of cell-bound zinc ions. The absence of the metal-binding cytoplasmic components, polyphosphate and glutathione, metal uptake, and metal efflux systems influenced the flow equilibrium. The experiments also revealed that not all zinc uptake and efflux systems are known in
C. metallidurans
. Cultivation of the cells under zinc-replete, zinc-, and zinc-magnesium-starvation conditions influenced zinc import and export rates. Here, magnesium starvation had a stronger influence compared to zinc starvation. Other metal cations, especially cobalt, affected the cellular zinc pools and zinc export during the chase reaction. In summary, the experiments with
65
Zn and
67
Zn demonstrated a constant turnover of cell-bound zinc. This indicated that simultaneously occurring import and export reactions in combination with cytoplasmic metal-binding components resulted in a kinetical flow equilibrium that was responsible for the adjustment of the cellular zinc content.

IMPORTANCE
Understanding the biochemical action of a single enzyme or transport protein is the pre-requisite to obtain insight into its cellular function but this is only one half of the coin. The other side concerns the question of how central metabolic functions of a cell emerge from the interplay of different proteins and other macromolecules. This paper demonstrates that a flow equilibrium of zinc uptake and efflux reactions is at the core of cellular zinc homeostasis and identifies the most important contributors to this flow equilibrium: the uptake and efflux systems and metal-binding components of the cytoplasm.
PmrAB, the two-component system of
Acinetobacter baumannii
, controls the phosphoethanolamine modification of lipooligosaccharide in response to metal ions
Authors: Yamada Noriteru , Kamoshida Go , Shiraishi Tsukasa , Yamaguchi Daiki , Matsuoka Momoko , Yamauchi Reika , Kanda Nana , Kamioka Roku , Takemoto Norihiko , Morita Yuji , Fujimuro Masahiro , Yokota Shin-ichi , Yahiro Kinnosuke 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Acinetobacter baumannii
is highly resistant to antimicrobial agents, and XDR strains have become widespread.
A. baumannii
has developed resistance to colistin, which is considered the last resort against XDR Gram-negative bacteria, mainly caused by lipooligosaccharide (LOS) phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) and/or galactosamine (GalN) modifications induced by mutations that activate the two-component system (TCS)
pmrAB
. Although PmrAB of
A. baumannii
has been recognized as a drug resistance factor, its function as TCS, including its regulatory genes and response factors, has not been fully elucidated. In this study, to clarify the function of PmrAB as TCS, we elucidated the regulatory genes (regulon) of PmrAB via transcriptome analysis using
pmrAB
-activated mutant strains. We discovered that PmrAB responds to low pH, Fe
2+
, Zn
2+
, and Al
3+
.
A. baumannii
selectively recognizes Fe
2+
rather than Fe
3+
, and a novel region ExxxE, in addition to the ExxE motif sequence, is involved in the environmental response. Furthermore, PmrAB participates in the phosphoethanolamine modification of LOS on the bacterial surface in response to metal ions such as Al
3+
, contributing to the attenuation of Al
3+
toxicity and development of resistance to colistin and polymyxin B in
A. baumannii
. This study demonstrates that PmrAB in
A. baumannii
not only regulates genes that play an important role in drug resistance but is also involved in responses to environmental stimuli such as metal ions and pH, and this stimulation induces LOS modification. This study reveals the importance of PmrAB in the environmental adaptation and antibacterial resistance emergence mechanisms of
A. baumannii
.

IMPORTANCE

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global issue in human health.
Acinetobacter baumannii
is notably high on the World Health Organization’s list of bacteria for which new antimicrobial agents are urgently needed. Colistin is one of the last-resort drugs used against extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Gram-negative bacteria. However,
A. baumannii
has become increasingly resistant to colistin, primarily by modifying its lipooligosaccharide (LOS) via activating mutations in the two-component system (TCS) PmrAB. This study comprehensively elucidates the detailed mechanism of drug resistance of PmrAB in
A. baumannii
as well as its biological functions. Understanding the molecular biology of these molecules, which serve as drug resistance factors and are involved in environmental recognition mechanisms in bacteria, is crucial for developing fundamental solutions to the AMR problem.
Student definitions of ownership and perceived ways ownership influences writing in a biology laboratory class
Authors: Yang Anqi , McDonnell Lisa 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Laboratory courses offer a unique opportunity, and sometimes challenge, to engage students in projects where they can experience ownership and authentic science practices. An important science practice is writing, which can lead to increased learning about concepts and science communication. Experiencing a sense of ownership in research can lead to various student outcomes, such as increased motivation, greater interest in research, and higher retention in STEM fields. Although previous work has extracted aspects of ownership from students’ descriptions of research experiences, studies have not examined directly how students define and perceive ownership. In addition, we do not have a clear idea of whether a sense of ownership is related to student attitudes toward scientific writing in a lab course setting. To better understand the relationship between ownership and writing directly from students’ perspectives, we used analysis of student responses to surveys and interviews in an upper-division laboratory course. Using a grounded theory approach for the analysis of 167 survey responses and 9 interviews, we found that students have varying perceptions of project ownership, with the most frequent being opportunities to contribute ideas and shape the project (autonomy), doing the work, and leadership. Students largely perceived that increased ownership had positive influences on their writing, such as increased understanding and thinking, freedom in writing, and increased motivation. Learning about how students perceive ownership in the context of a lab course is useful for considering how lab course structure may support the development of a sense of ownership and may influence how we can engage students in meaningful writing practices.
Structural morphing in the viral portal vertex of bacteriophage lambda
Authors: Gu Zhiwei , Wu Kexun , Wang Jiawei 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

The portal protein of tailed bacteriophage plays essential roles in various aspects of capsid assembly, motor assembly, genome packaging, connector formation, and infection processes. After DNA packaging is complete, additional proteins are assembled onto the portal to form the connector complex, which is crucial as it bridges the mature head and tail. In this study, we report high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the portal vertex from bacteriophage lambda in both its prohead and mature virion states. Comparison of these structures shows that during head maturation, in addition to capsid expansion, the portal protein undergoes conformational changes to establish interactions with the connector proteins. Additionally, the independently assembled tail undergoes morphological alterations at its proximal end, facilitating its connection to the head-tail joining protein and resulting in the formation of a stable portal-connector-tail complex. The B-DNA molecule spirally glides through the tube, interacting with the nozzle blade region of the middle-ring connector protein. These insights elucidate a mechanism for portal maturation and DNA translocation within the phage lambda system.

IMPORTANCE
The tailed bacteriophages possess a distinct portal vertex that consists of a ring of 12 portal proteins associated with a 5-fold capsid shell. This portal protein is crucial in multiple stages of virus assembly and infection. Our research focused on examining the structures of the portal vertex in both its preliminary prohead state and the fully mature virion state of bacteriophage lambda. By analyzing these structures, we were able to understand how the portal protein undergoes conformational changes during maturation, the mechanism by which it prevents DNA from escaping, and the process of DNA spirally gliding.
Intraspecific variation in antibiotic resistance potential within
E. coli
Authors: Suarez Stacy A. , Martiny Adam C. 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT

Intraspecific genomic diversity brings the potential for an unreported and diverse reservoir of cryptic antibiotic resistance genes in pathogens, as cryptic resistance can occur without major mutations and horizontal transmission. Here, we predicted the differences in the types of antibiotics and genes that induce cryptic and latent resistance between micro-diverse
Escherichia coli
strains. For example, we hypothesize that known resistance genes will be the culprit of latent resistance within clinical strains. We used a modified functional metagenomics method to induce expression in eight
E. coli
strains. We found a total of 66 individual genes conferring phenotypic resistance to 11 out of 16 antibiotics. A total of 14 known antibiotic resistance genes comprised 21% of total identified genes, whereas the majority (52 genes) were unclassified cryptic resistance genes. Between the eight strains, 1.2% of core orthologous genes were positive (conferred resistance in at least one strain). Sixty-four percent of positive orthologous genes conferred resistance to only one strain, demonstrating high intraspecific variability of latent resistance genes. Cryptic resistance genes comprised most resistance genes among laboratory and clinical strains as well as natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic antibiotics. Known antibiotic resistance genes primarily conferred resistance to multiple antibiotics from varying origins and within multiple strains. Hence, it is uncommon for
E. coli
to develop cross-cryptic resistance to antibiotics from multiple origins or within multiple strains. We have uncovered prospective and previously unknown resistance genes as well as antibiotics that have the potential to trigger latent antibiotic resistance in
E. coli
strains from varying origins.

IMPORTANCE

Intraspecific genomic diversity may be a driving force in the emergence of adaptive antibiotic resistance. Adaptive antibiotic resistance enables sensitive bacterial cells to acquire temporary antibiotic resistance, creating an optimal window for the development of permanent mutational resistance. In this study, we investigate cryptic resistance, an adaptive resistance mechanism, and unveil novel (cryptic) antibiotic resistance genes that confer resistance when amplified within eight
E. coli
strains derived from clinical and laboratory origins. We identify the potential of cryptic resistance genes to confer cross-resistance to antibiotics from varying origins and within multiple strains. We discern antibiotic characteristics that promote latent resistance in multiple strains, considering intraspecific diversity. This study may help detect novel resistance genes and functional genes that could become responsible for cryptic resistance among diverse strains and antibiotics, thus also identifying potential novel antibiotic targets and mechanisms.